Russian State Duma deputy Alexei Chepa has expressed confidence that the European Union will inevitably lift sanctions against Russia.
Problems Linked to Sanctions
In a conversation with Lenta, Chepa noted that while the removal of these sanctions will require specific conditions, changes are already on the horizon.
Chepa emphasized that political shifts within the sanction-imposing countries are necessary for lifting the restrictions.
"Political changes must occur in these countries. We see that the economic situation is already changing. Our counterparts will have to make decisions under pressure from internal and external forces," the politician explained.
He pointed to upcoming elections in the European Parliament and the United States as indicators of potential change.
"Many problems within Western countries are linked to sanctions, and this affects the people's decisions," he added.
Sanctions in Place Since 1970s
Discussing the timeline for lifting sanctions, Chepa acknowledged the complexity of the situation.
He recalled that some sanctions date back to the Soviet era and have since carried over to Russia.
"If we look at history, there were sanctions that have been in place since the 1970s. These were specific trade restrictions with the USSR, which later transitioned to trade with Russia," Chepa stated.
He argued that sanctions impact competition and provide certain advantages to businesses but remained optimistic about their eventual removal. "So, sooner or later, the sanctions will be lifted; everything will be regulated, and we will achieve this," he asserted.
Despite this optimism, the committee of permanent representatives of EU countries recently agreed to extend economic sanctions against Russia for another six months. These sanctions, initially imposed in 2014, will remain in effect until the end of January 2025.
