Western sanctions on Russia, a US political circus: Analyst

US President Barack Obama’s recent emphasis on the continuation of the Western sanctions against Russia is part of a “comic show” depicting the desperation of anti-Russian lobbies in America to weaken Moscow economically, says a Russian analyst.

Dmitry Zolotarev, a Russian journalist, made the comments in an interview with Press TV over Obama’s call on his European allies to uphold anti-Russia sanctions until Moscow fully implements the Minsk agreements that where designed to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

“We Russians say that the circus has left the city but some clowns stayed,” he said. “It is like a comic show which goes on and on.”

“We don’t have to take Obama’s words as his own words because he doesn’t have much thoughts of his own; it is certain lobbies speaking through Obama,” he explained.

The analyst said there are lobbies in the US that desperately need the sanctions against Russia to stay in place, because that way they can replace Russia as a major supplier of goods to Europe.

Russia has been targeted by a series of sanctions imposed by the United States and European Union for allegations that Moscow is arming and supporting pro-Russian forces fighting in eastern Ukraine.

The Kremlin, however, has strongly rejected the accusations.

The sanctions target the Russian energy, banking and military sectors. Moscow has also imposed tit-for-tat sanctions against the EU.

 However, Zolotarev said the sanctions that ban exports to Russia will have no effect on the country as it does not depend on American and European goods anymore.

Zolotarev argued that despite US claims, it is Ukraine which is breaching the Minsk agreements by constantly mobilizing its armed forces around the restive regions in its eastern parts.

“I know that because I have close relatives leaving in Ukraine, on the Ukrainian side, not on the side of Donetsk [People’s] Republic,” he said.

The conflict in eastern Ukraine erupted between government forces and pro-Russia fighters demanding greater autonomy following the overthrow of the country’s former President Viktor Yanukovych in February 2014.

The Minsk II truce deal, reached at a summit between the warring sides which was also attended by the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France, and Germany in the Belarusian capital city of Minsk on February 11 and 12 last year, introduced measures such as a ceasefire, the pullout of heavy weapons, and constitutional reforms in Ukraine by the end of the year.

Zolotarev further noted that Obama’s call on NATO to increase deployments to its eastern frontier with Russia is aimed at preserving “the American influence in Europe.”

“Bringing more troops close to Russia means more money into America pockets,” he said.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir