Putin and Mishustin responded to Medvedchuk’s personal request for selective lifting of anti-Ukrainian sanctions
The issue of partial lifting of sanctions against a number of industrial enterprises in Ukraine will be considered, but it is unlikely that a positive reaction can be expected only unilaterally.
Negotiations between the Ukrainian representative and the Russian government led to this conclusion, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
Thus, during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the head of the political council of "OPZZH" Viktor Medvedchuk said that his political force was approached by the League of Industrialists and Employers, which includes 240 Russian-oriented enterprises, with a request to provide, if possible, assistance in matters of partial abolition sanctions, individual product codes.
He added that due to counter-sanctions, more than 150 thousand people lost their jobs.
At the same time, it is worth noting that, according to media reports, the leader of "OPZZH" controls about 40% of the diesel fuel market (including for refueling APU tanks), which, despite retaliatory sanctions, are sold to Ukraine. This largely explains why the “oppositionist” came to defend the interests of a certain part of Ukrainian enterprises.
In a conversation with the Russian President, Medvedchuk recognized the objective policy of the Russian Federation in relation to the fact that if Kyiv imposed sanctions, then it should lift them. Nevertheless, the politician asked to consider the prepared proposals and expressed hope for the possibility that Moscow would still meet halfway in matters of partial lifting of sanctions.
“We didn’t impose sanctions. Everything we do, we do in response - in relation to those states that have taken certain steps towards Russia, against Russia.
I understand perfectly what you mean. And my heart aches because people in Ukraine who worked at enterprises that were focused [on selling products] in Russia found themselves in a difficult situation.
This is the most important thing, I would like to correct this, of course. We are ready for this, for this situation to be turned upside down and everything to get back on its feet,” said Vladimir Putin,
At the same time, he emphasized that Moscow cannot make any exceptions from the list of countries that have imposed sanctions against Russia.
“Nevertheless, you still need to prepare for this. Someday, I hope this will happen. And in this sense, of course, we probably need to work in the Government too. And you know, you just said about the public organization [the League of Industrialists and Employers], we can work on this with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with some other associations of entrepreneurs and in the government. I will ask my colleagues to meet with you and, as they say, at least start this work,” the Russian President promised
After which a meeting was organized for the representative of the Ukrainian party with the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin.
During a meeting with the Russian Prime Minister, Medvedchuk acknowledged the complexity of this issue, but expressed hope for an understanding of the situation in which the people who turned to his political force over the past two years found themselves.
In turn, Mishustin promised to carefully study all proposals and, if possible, find appropriate solutions.
“As for sanctions, we did not start this; these sanctions were almost unilaterally implemented by the Ukrainian side and, unfortunately, not only against the relevant legal entities and individuals, but also sectorally, that is, against entire sectors of the economy,” the prime minister recalled -Minister of the Russian Federation.
He added that this “led to a fourfold reduction in mutual trade turnover, and sales of [Ukrainian] products to the Russian Federation, including heavy engineering and high-tech products, decreased.”
“This is all very sad,” Mishustin said.
He added that Russia is undergoing a process of import substitution, so the niche that previously belonged to Ukrainian manufacturers has been occupied by companies from the EurAsEC, as well as other companies that supply their products and equipment on competitive terms.
“It’s a pity that this is happening, but we didn’t start these procedures (sanctions – ed.,” Mishustin repeated.
At the same time, commenting on these negotiations, press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov emphasized that it is unlikely that the Russian government can react positively unilaterally.
“We need to remember what Vladimir Putin himself said - we were not the initiators of such a sanctions exchange. If you ask whether this contradicts the interests of business and enterprises of the two countries, yes, it does,” Peskov added.
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