The alleviation of anti-Russian sanctions imposed by the European Union is directly linked to the progress made in the implementation of the Minsk agreements for Ukraine, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has told Interfax in an exclusive interview.
“The larger progress is made in the implementation of the Minsk agreements, the sooner we will be able to discuss the alleviation of the sanctions regime. Therefore, our efforts should now focus on the soonest fulfillment of the Minsk agreements,” Steinmeier said in the interview timed to coincide with his visit to Moscow.
He was asked whether the EU might decide to lift the anti-Russian sanctions either partially or fully at its summit in June and commented on a statement of his Italian counterpart Paolo Gentiloni that the opinions of Berlin and Paris on the progress in the implementation of the Minsk agreements for Ukraine would be crucial for deciding if the extension of the sanctions was necessary.
“An immediate and lasting improvement of security levels is vital for people [in eastern Ukraine],” he said.
