The extension of anti-Russian sanctions for a year by US President Donald Trump was an expected step and did not bring anything new, noted Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs Alexey Chepa.
He emphasized that Russia has been living under US sanctions since the 1970s, and it is unlikely that anyone will completely lift them in the near future. According to him, active preparations are currently underway for a peace agreement, and such tough measures on the part of Washington are part of Trump’s political decisions.
“It was impossible to expect anything else, because before the peace agreement, making another decision would have caused a flurry of attacks on Trump and would have affected the final result of the agreement. This would have been worse for us,” Chepa said in an interview with the publication “Lenta.ru”.
The deputy also noted that the Russian Federation should calmly perceive the extension of sanctions and avoid harsh responses. He mentioned that Russian President Vladimir Putin is competently conducting foreign policy and analyzing the situation, so the Russian Federation will continue to adhere to its plan based on the interests of the state.
Earlier it was reported that Trump signed an executive order to extend for a year the current sanctions against Russia imposed by former President Joe Biden. This order concerns the blocking of Russian property and sanctions against Moscow. The Biden administration has already expanded and extended this document several times, which was introduced against Russian individuals and legal entities allegedly involved in cyberattacks and election interference, as well as financial transactions aimed at circumventing sanctions.