Jemilev: West won't revoke sanctions against Russia until Crimea is free

Western countries aren't going to revoke sanctions against Russia until it frees the occupied Ukrainian territories, including Crimea, Crimean Tatar leader, MP from the Bloc of Petro Poroshenko Mustafa Jemilev said during a meeting with refugees, reported Interfax-Ukraine.

Jemilev said that this was what German Chancellor Angela Merkel told him, according to the press service of the Solidarity party.

"Merkel and I discussed it, and I told her that recently there had been an opinion that sanctions could be eased or even revoked, if Russia or the formations acting in Luhansk and Donetsk regions were to observe Minsk agreements. Merkel assured that until all the occupied territories were freed, sanctions would remain," he said.

The Crimean Tatar leader noted that the current sanctions and a drop in oil prices were significantly harming Russian economy. According to him, with current oil prices, Russia "will have enough strength to act as a superpower" for a year and a half.

However, Jemilev said that the battle for freedom shouldn't be stopped. "We mustn't sit and wait, when sanctions give effect, and do nothing in the meantime. If [we] don't do anything sanctions won't help either. One, who helps oneself, gets helped," MP said.

Jemilev said he was sure that Crimea would be brought back to Ukraine.