Estonian Center Party MEP Yana Toom said in the European Parliament on Wednesday that the union should put an end to sanctions against Russia.
“The need for cooperation with Russia, and for defrosting EU-Russian relations is clear, but sadly not to all representatives,” she said, adding that EU humanitarian aid to Ukraine and support for reform will not suffice, Delfi reported.
“The economic and energy crisis in Ukraine can not be solved without the active and positive inclusion of Russia. We should be realistic,” she said, adding that trade between Ukraine and Russia can still be restored, a move which would greatly help the Ukrainian economy bounce back.
“We must break the vicious circle of sanctions, which have proven to be largely ineffective, and we must find better solutions,” Toom said.