Russia: EU failing to seduce Russian with sanctions - Lavrov

Some EU member states tried to "seduce" Russia into discussions with the indication that actions inkeeping with their wants would lead to a lifting of sanctions, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Moscow on Tuesday. Lavrov stated categorically that "It was not our decision [to introduce sanctions] and it is not on us to lift them. And we will by no means run around asking for it." Speaking at a joint press conference with Austria's Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, Lavrov added that Russia is willing to continue the cooperation with its partners if the "illegitimate and counterproductive" sanctions are not extended. Russia's top diplomat went on to criticise the contradictory nature of the EU's economic philosophy: "They [EU representatives] publicly stated that given the current situation, politics must put pressure on economics. This is voiced by those who have been calling on us to join the world of free markets and urged us not to interfere with the mechanisms of its functions," Lavrov said. The press conference followed a meeting between the delegations of Russia and Austria in Moscow, where the Ukraine conflict, EU-Russia relations as well as bilateral relations between the two countries were discussed, among other topics.