Monitoring Desk
BAGHDAD: Russian Foreign Minister (FM) Sergei Lavrov and the Iraqi foreign minister discussed unpaid bills owed to Russian oil companies on Monday because of the United States (US) sanctions over the Ukraine conflict.
During a news conference in Baghdad, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said he would discuss the issue during a visit to the US on Wednesday.
“The US sanctions should not be imposed on Iraq as it continues cooperation with Russian companies,” Hussein said.
Since the Ukraine war began around a year ago, the US and the European Union have imposed sanctions on Russian financial institutions, officials, and banks, raising fears in third-world countries regarding any transactions involving Russia.
Without specifying how much was due, Hussein said Russian gas and oil companies operating in Iraq were still awaiting some payments.
Standing alongside Lavrov, Hussein said: “We have discussed how to manage these pending dues in light of the US sanctions imposed on Russia and the protection of Iraq’s central bank and its commercial banks.”
He said in the coming months, a joint committee would meet on bilateral relations with Russia to discuss the matter.
Russian foreign minister terms US sanctions illegal
Meanwhile, Lavrov criticized the measures taken by Western countries, describing them as “illegal.”
“Under the current circumstances of illegal restrictions imposed by the US and its proxies, it is essential to protect legal, economic ties from illegal Western pressure,” said Lavrov.
“This is what several countries in the region are doing, switching instead of the US dollar to payments in the currencies of other stable countries, particularly for oil deliveries,” Lavrov added.
Hussein reiterated Iraq’s support for a ceasefire and talks to end the war in Ukraine.
“We support a truce between both parties so talks to end this truly global crisis can begin,” Hussein said.
