President of Czech Republic in favour of lifting EU sanctions against Russia
Czech President Miloš Zeman has asked the European Council to consider lifting the sanctions against Russia.
According to the Ukrainian television channel Gromadskoye, Zeman said that he supported the position of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš who spoke out against the sanctions.
During a meeting in Prague with Czech ambassadors, Zeman said:
“These restrictions are not beneficial to anyone. I am glad the prime minister publicly stated that the sanctions are ineffective.”
He invited the European Union to begin discussions on the matter.
“The new government of Italy is against the sanctions, and after Putin’s visit Austria says the same. The Czech Republic should be active in this matter,” said Zeman.
All 28 EU foreign ministers will meet for talks in Austria on 30 and 31 August, at which London is expected to propose new sanctions against Russia in response to the use of chemical weapons in Britain and Syria.
On 29 June, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš suggested in an interview with the French newspaper Le Figaro that the EU might soon begin talks on lifting the sanctions.
