HMG response to select committee on Russia sanctions

We reported in July (see here) that the House of Commons Defence Committee had called on the UK government to consider extending the EU’s Russia sanctions, but had noted that sanctions had not reduced Russian military investment and expansion, nor led to Russia’s compliance with the Minsk Agreement.

The Committee has now published the Government’s response which is as follows:

“The UK supports continuation of the robust approach by the EU towards sanctions against Russia. The EU’s Tier III economic sanctions were renewed in July. All EU member states agree that sanctions should be clearly linked to Russia’s implementation of the Minsk agreements. The UK supports the EU’s Tier II asset freeze and travel ban restrictive measures. The EU will discuss renewal of these sanctions in September 2016, when the UK will argue for complete rollover. We believe that the current sanctions are firm and proportionate.”