Russia’s ambassador to the UK, Andrei Kelin, has declared that the sanctions imposed against his country for its invasion of Ukraine have not achieved their intended goals. Kelin made these comments during an interview with Sky News journalist Ed Conway, who had recently uncovered several loopholes in the restrictions regime that allowed British companies to continue trading with Russia and providing crucial support to the Kremlin’s war efforts.
In the midst of heightened tensions between Russia and Europe, Kelin defended the continued trade, stating that “business is pure business.” He also criticized the supply of weapons by Western countries, including Britain, to Ukraine, arguing that it only perpetuates the conflict and will ultimately harm Kyiv in the long run.
During an appearance on The World With Yalda Hakim programme, Kelin elaborated on the goals of the sanctions imposed by the West. He stated, “The goal of the sanctions was first of all to disrupt the normal life of Russians in hopes that they would turn against Putin. The second goal was to damage the Russian economy as much as possible. And the third goal was to bring about a change in political leadership. However, none of these goals have been achieved by the sanctions.”
Despite the strained relations between Russia and Europe, the latter still relies on Russia for approximately 15% of its gas supply. This has resulted in revenues of around €10bn (£8.5bn) for Russia since 2022. However, Kelin downplayed the importance of this trade to Russia’s overall budget, stating that it is only a small portion and that their budget is measured in trillions.
When asked about the delivery of weapons by the West to Ukraine, Kelin expressed disapproval, stating that it only prolongs the conflict. He said, “The longer the conflict goes on, the worse the situation is for Ukraine. Not for us. Economically, we stand independent, and morale is high. Our people believe in our president, as shown during the elections.”
Kelin also clarified that Russia has not imposed any sanctions on Europe for purchasing goods from them and that there is no ideology behind their business dealings. He stated, “There’s no politics involved. If they are buying from us, why not? Business is pure business.”