The sanctions imposed by the West on Russia are unfair and unproductive, but they are likely to remain in place for some time, says French National Assembly member Thierry Mariani, who is leading a French parliamentary delegation visiting Moscow and planning to travel to Crimea.
“The sanctions against Russia are absolutely unfair and unproductive, because history doesn’t know countries that have changed their position because of sanctions,” Mariani said in reply to a question from Interfax on July 23.
Asked whether the sanctions could be lifted from Russia, Mariani said, “My view is quite pessimistic: these sanctions will remain in place for a while.”
“I don’t know for how long they will last, but, since the situation in Ukraine is getting out of control and elections in the U.S. will only raise the stakes, alas, I don’t have optimistic expectations on the matter,” Mariani said.
The French parliamentary delegation has come to Moscow, from where it will go to Crimea on Thursday for a two-day visit, where its members, apart from the official program, also plan to talk to ordinary residents from Yalta and Sevastopol and take a walk along these cities’ seafronts.
Kyiv has voiced its protest against the French delegation’s planned trip to Crimea.
