US: Anti-Russian sanctions to remain until Kiev conflict solved

KIEV, Jul 10 (PRIME) -- The U.S. and E.U. sanctions against Russia will remain in force until the Ukrainian conflict is solved, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said at a briefing on July 9 following a meeting with Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko.

The sanctions will be kept until Russia ceases those actions that led to these sanctions, he said.

Poroshenko said he was interested in the abolishment of Western sanctions against Russia more than others, but the issue is tied with settling the conflict in the east of Ukraine.

“We also talked about the sanctions in details today and received assurances that until the Minsk agreements are implemented and the Ukrainian territory is liberated, there will be no talks about lifting the sanctions,” he said.

In 2014, relations between Russia and the West deteriorated to their worse since the Cold War due to a military conflict in Ukraine. The West introduced sanctions against some Russian individuals and firms and further against the energy and banking sectors. In response, Russia prohibited food imports from some countries, including the U.S., the E.U., Canada, Australia, and Norway.

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