MOSCOW, February 14. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev considers reasonable one-time lifting of mutual sanctions of the West and the Russian Federation. This opinion he expressed in the interview to Euronews, answering the question as to how far the Russian government to seek the removal of anti-Russian sanctions.
Medvedev once again reminded that “we are not these sanctions came up, not us them to start filming”.
“We must have the courage and say: you know, guys, all we conclude here with such and such a date, we ask you response to suspend. That would be the right approach”, – expressed his opinion of the Russian Prime Minister, stressing that sanctions “never to anything that’s not led, only the money lost”. “And now will be the same,” he said.
The pros and cons of mutual sanctions
Medvedev admitted that sanctions have affected the economy of the Russian Federation, companies and banks lost Western financing. However, these restrictions allowed them to start the healing process of the economy.
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“Perhaps one of the benefits of these sanctions and retaliatory measures which we have introduced, is that we are increasingly engaged in agriculture and largely now self-reliant, almost any food, such as grain in large quantities for export. In this sense, the sanctions have helped,” said Medvedev.
The main damage to the Russian economy caused the fall in oil prices. “The situation in the economy we have now is really not the easiest”, he said. However, the drop in prices makes the revenue structure of the Russian economy to change. “In all this there is one positive effect: economy develops, it is less dependent on oil and we can develop our industry and agriculture”, – said the Prime Minister.
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Medvedev said that the economic slowdown “could not affect to the income situation and the situation of ordinary people, with their real jobs, their real income”. At the same time, he recalled that the government of the Russian Federation in these conditions has pledged not to cut social spending to avoid tension in the society.
“Moreover, we have adjusted pensions for inflation in the past year, and this year, maybe not completely, but has indexed. We will try to do continue”, – assured Medvedev.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the government intends “to try to do everything to the social well-being of Russian citizens as comfortable as possible in these conditions.”
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Dmitry Medvedev’s interview with Euronews and Time. Key statements
