Italy PM says he is working to try to end sanctions against Russia

Reuters
Sun, 10 Mar 2019 10:45 UTC

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Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Friday he was working to try to end international sanctions against Russia, which the ruling parties in Rome say are ineffective and hurt the Italian economy.

Speaking at a foreign policy conference in Genova, Conte said the sanctions, imposed after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea, must never become an end in themselves.

When asked if Italy wanted them lifted, he replied: "We are working for this objective."

Comment: Although Italy is one of the few brave enough to speak out against the US' nonsensical Russian sanctions, many other EU countries are letting business speak for itself:

• What sanctions? Germany's investments in Russia continue to rise, despite extension
• Russia outmaneuvers unreliable US gas, and Brits buy up half of Russia's Eurobonds
• Journalist: Majority of Austrians would remove anti-Russia sanctions, hostility comes from political groups
• Friendly relations with Russia and anti-austerity: Why the West is interfering in Italy's democracy