Official: EU to roll over anti-Russian sanctions for 6 months
LUXEMBURG, Jun 20 (PRIME) -- The E.U. will roll over its anti-Russian economic sanctions for another six months, but the next E.U. summit, to be held on June 28–29, should discuss steps the Union should undertake in case the situation improves, France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault told reporters Monday.
The E.U. is to decide on prolongation of the anti-Russian sanctions on Tuesday, Agence France Presse (AFP) reported earlier in June. The decision will be submitted for approval of the E.U. foreign ministers on Friday.
“The conditions for abolishment of the sanctions have not been fulfilled as of today, the Minsk agreements are not fulfilled. There is some progress, but it is insufficient,” Ayrault said.
“I want us not be satisfied with an automatic prolongation of the sanctions for the next sixth months at the next meeting of the European Council, as the expediency of these sanctions will be defined on the level of the heads of states and governments, and a discussion be held, so that France’s President (Francois Hollande) and Germany’s Chancellor (Angela Merkel) say what the Normandy format has done to help the Minsk agreements come true.
“As the sanctions will be prolonged for six months, we need a discussion so that we understand that we are able to make a step forward if there is some progresss. But the conditions should be fulfilled for that, Russians and Ukrainians have to fulfill their part of the job in implementation of the Minsk agreements,” he said.
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