"Seven EU members support lifting of sanctions"

"Seven EU members support lifting of sanctions"

Previously, TASS quoted a source close to the EU Council who said that foreign ministers of 28 EU member countries would not make any decisions on sanctions at their first meeting this year in Brussels on January 19, and that "a decision on sanctions should be taken in March."

The TASS report said that "according to another source, although no concrete decisions on sanctions are expected at the upcoming ministerial meeting, 'the tone of this issue discussion should be softened'."

"Ministers will most likely be preparing the ground for softening the sanctions regime. Perhaps the time has come," said the diplomat.

The Wall Street Journal previously reported with reference to a document prepared by the EU foreign policy service that became available to its reporters that the European Union was "ready to soften the anti-Russian sanctions and for partial normalization of relations with Russia if Moscow changes its stance on the situation in Ukraine."

The newspaper said this document should be considered by the participants in the meeting of the EU foreign ministers in Brussels on January 19.