Russian Lawmaker Says EU's Timing Of New Sanctions On Turkey 'Suspicious'
Faizan Hashmi Published July 16, 2019 | 08:50 PM
The European Union's sanctions on Turkey "suspiciously" coincide with the United States' plans to impose restrictions on Ankara over its purchase of Russian S-400 air defense missile systems, Konstantin Kosachev, the chair of the foreign committee of the Russian upper house, told Sputnik on Tuesday
On Monday, the Council of the European Union approved sanctions against Turkey over its decision to move ahead with hydrocarbon exploration in Cyprus' exclusive economic zone. The European Union intends to reduce its financial assistance for Turkey by 145.8 million Euros ($164 million) and suspend negotiations with Ankara on an aviation agreement.
"The European Union's sanctions coincide with Ankara's feud with Washington over the purchase of Russian [S-400] missile systems," Kosachev said, calling the coincidence "suspicious."
The senior lawmaker noted that while the EU-Turkey row over Cyprus' land and water rights was an old conflict, Brussels saw the US plans "as a green light to start pressuring Turkey" and not as a means of solving the problem.
The first batch of S-400 components arrived to Turkey on Friday. That same day, the US Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees advised that US President Donald Trump impose economic sanctions on Turkey.
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