"We should take advantage of the new situation as a starting point to overcome the anti-Russian sanctions. Here we need an exit strategy", — said the Minister in an interview with Austrian newspaper Kurier.

A. Rupprechter called on the Austrian Federal Chancellor Christian Kern to be put on the agenda of the EU Council the question of cancellation of sanctions against Russia, or at least their weakening.

1 июля2016 years, the European Union formally extended economic sanctions against Russia until 31 January 2017. Before that, the Austrian foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz urged the EU to move towards gradual removal of sanctions from Russia, for each step in the implementation of the Minsk agreements.