““Any relaxation harms the collective effort to increase pressure on the aggressor and restore peace””, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
“With full understanding of the special needs of our partners, we are convinced that the international sanctions against Gazprombank should be maintained in full, and any easing harms collective efforts aimed at increasing pressure on the aggressor and restoring peace, security and stability in the region,” – it is said in a comment published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Thus, the spokesman of the ministry commented on the announcement of exemptions from sanctions against the bank for Hungary and Turkey.
According to Tykhi, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expects that this step is “temporary and short-term, and the full effect of the restrictions will be restored and preserved.”
Read also: Bloomberg: The EU calls on the US to ease sanctions against Gazprombank
Earlier on December 20, Bloomberg reported, citing Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, that Ankara, after negotiations with the United States, was given the opportunity to continue paying for Russian gas through a sanctioned bank.
Also, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, Peter Szijarto, said on December 19 that Budapest will be able to make payments for Russian gas through Gazprombank.
On November 21, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Gazprombank, making it virtually impossible to make payments for the supply of Russian gas to foreign buyers. According to the new restrictive measures, operations involving the bank are allowed until December 20. An exception for US operations was made for the Sakhalin-2 project – until June 28, 2025.
Also, on December 18, the US Ministry of Finance temporarily allowed transactions with Gazprombank related to civil nuclear projects launched until November 21, 2024. At the same time, this permit does not apply to the Paks II NPP in Hungary.
In justifying the sanctions in Washington, it was emphasized that Russia uses Gazprombank to purchase military equipment to continue the war against Ukraine and transfer payments to the Russian military.