Obama: EU to keep sanctions vs Russia until Minsk deal fulfilled

WASHINGTON, Apr 20 (PRIME) -- The E.U. should keep sanctions against Russia until Moscow fully complies with the agreement on truce in Ukraine made in Minsk, U.S. President Barack Obama said April 17 at a news conference following his talks with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

“And I expressed my strong belief that the European Council needs to continue the current sanctions that are in place until we’ve seen full implementation of the Minsk Agreement,” Obama said.

“There will be a vote coming up this summer in the European Council. And my expectation is not only Italy, but all countries in Europe will recognize that it would be a wrong message to send to reduce sanctions pressure on Russia when their key implementation steps don't happen until the end of the year,” he said.

Relations between Russia and the West have deteriorated to their worse since the Cold War due to the military conflict in Ukraine. The West introduced sanctions against some Russians and firms and further against the energy and banking sectors. In response, Russia banned food imports from some countries, including the U.S., the E.U., Canada, Australia, and Norway.

In late March, the European Council tied sanctions against Russia with the implementation of the Minsk agreements, which is foreseen only by December 31. Thus economic sanctions which are in force till the end of July could be now prolonged.

On February 12, negotiators, including Russia and the E.U., agreed in Minsk on a ceasefire in Ukraine from February 15, removal of heavy weapons and amendments to the country’s constitution, which included the country’s decentralization to give a unique legal status to some areas of the self-proclaimed republics in the east.

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