EU representative: sanctions will not affect ordinary Russians

Sanctions against Russia in connection with the situation in Ukraine will not affect ordinary Russian citizens. This was in an interview with Kommersant by the head of the EU representative office in the Moscow Vigadas Ushaskas.

"The sanctions adopted by the EU do not concern ordinary citizens of Russia. Moreover, some EU countries have decided to facilitate visa procedures for Russian citizens. Baltic, Mediterranean and other European resorts will try to attract as many vacationers from Russia as possible," Ushaskas said.

The EU is configured to activate contacts between the inhabitants of Russia and the European Union countries, Ushaskas emphasized. “In the current situation, this task is gaining special relevance. It is different not to overcome that unprecedented difference in the perception of what happened and why. In this sense, further exchanges between citizens of the EU and Russia can play an important role in folk diplomacy,” he said.

Also, the head of the EU representative office in Moscow expressed the hope that the case will not reach the sanctions against a number of sectors of the Russian economy. “First of all, I want to emphasize that sanctions are not a punishment. And they are not an end in itself. This is only a tool aimed at changing the behavior of the other side. Yes, it really was decided that if there is no progress, but, on the contrary, there would be an escalation, the EU could impose additional sanctions, including in the economy. I hope that we do not reach this moment,” Ushatskas noted.

On March 17 and 21 , the European Union imposed sanctions against 33 Russian and Crimean officials . They are forbidden to enter the EU countries, and their assets are frozen. Similar sanctions were introduced by the United States against 31 people . The sanctions were also imposed by Canada, Switzerland and a number of other countries. The leaders of the Western countries have repeatedly warned that the sanctions in the event of an escalation of the conflict would be strengthened and will affect entire sectors of the economy.