LONDON (Sputnik) — The Western sanctions against Russia may be eased, as Moscow and the West strive for renewed cooperation, Khodorkovsky said Thursday.
"The sanctions may not be cancelled but they will be eased. The Western Leaders feel the pressure from the side of their business and [they are] not ready to sacrifice short-term political results for long-term goals," Khodorkovsky said at a press conference.
Both Russia and the West would like to restore relations, he added.
The European Union, the United States and several other Western countries have introduced several rounds of anti-Russia sanctions, accusing Moscow of meddling in the Ukrainian conflict and annexing Crimea. The claims have been repeatedly denied by the Kremlin.
