The expert assessed the likelihood of easing European sanctions due to cold weather

MOSCOW, 14 Sep — PRIME. Europe, in theory, can ease sanctions against Russia against the backdrop of winter cold, but this would be its political capitulation, Fyodor Lukyanov, director of research at the Valdai International Discussion Club’s Development and Support Fund, told RIA Novosti.

“Politically, this will be a strong turning point, and in Europe, in the West it will be considered as a capitulation, which they do not want to allow in any case today,” he stressed.

According to the expert, the EU could take such a step in the event of a “very difficult” fuel situation. However, for now, Europeans will prefer to hope for a less severe winter and the end of the Ukrainian conflict, Lukyanov added.

The energy ministers of the European Union countries held an extraordinary meeting on September 9 and discussed additional measures to contain energy prices, including the possibility of introducing a “ceiling” on Russian gas prices. However, this idea did not receive wide support.

At the same time, the finance ministers of the G7 member countries, following a meeting on September 2, agreed to impose a price limit on Russian oil.

Earlier, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary for Bilateral Relations, Tamas Menzer, said that the EU could review its sanctions policy in the fall against the backdrop of cold weather and rising fuel prices. According to Lukyanov, Budapest does not want sanctions restrictions to affect the country’s energy security. However, so far no other European country follows this course, the expert noted.