EU anti-Russian sanctions are in question
The new Italian government, which is now being formed by the League and 5 Star Movement parties, has a chance to achieve the lifting of anti-Russian sanctions imposed by the EU.
Rossiyskaya Gazeta reports this , noting that the draft coalition agreement, the text of which was leaked to Italian media, includes a clause on lifting sanctions against Russia.
“Russia should not be viewed as a threat, but as a commercial partner,” the document says. In addition, among the goals of the new government is the intention to seek “immediate lifting of sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation” and the immediate rehabilitation of Moscow “as a strategic partner” in negotiations on the Middle East, on the situation around Syria, Libya and Yemen.
League leader Matteo Salvini on Red Square in Moscow.
“The emergence of this provision could, in fact, finally return Italy a few years ago and allow it to resume the old policy based on a strategic partnership with Russia,” Tiberio Graziani, director of the Vision & Global Trends think tank, said in an interview with RG.
The emerging cooling in relations between the United States and the European Union in connection with Washington's withdrawal from the agreement on Iran's nuclear program may play into the hands of supporters of the lifting of anti-Russian sanctions.
“Undoubtedly, the distance that has arisen between Brussels and Washington may well play into Italy’s hands and help it move towards lifting sanctions, as well as ultimately realizing the expectations of representatives of European and Italian business, who have long dreamed of establishing economic ties with Moscow. At this historical moment there is a real opportunity to achieve this goal,” says Graziani.
In turn, Timofey Bordachev, director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the Faculty of World Economy and World Politics at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, recalled that the decision to extend sanctions is voted on by consensus in the EU.
“If this consensus is undermined, things could take a completely different turn. Politically, Italy’s statement is very important, because it means that such ideas are being discussed, and sanctions are perceived as an anomaly in relations between Rome and Moscow,” the expert said.
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