Poroshenko said about the possible extension of sanctions of EU against Russia
If the Minsk agreements are not adhered to, then with high probability the EU sanctions against Russia will be extended, said the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko. His words are on the website of the President.
According to Poroshenko, the agreement was reached during a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. “The world must be brought to the Ukrainian land. The occupation must end. We have firm and consistent support of Germany in this matter,” he said.
The President said that during the talks the parties discussed a wide range of issues, starting with security issues and support for Germany and EU sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine.
Poroshenko also thanked Germany for its role in the issue of granting Ukrainians visa-free regime. The President and the Chancellor coordinated actions to ensure and accelerate the ratification of the Association Agreement.
The parties also considered the question of the coordinated action the implementation of the Minsk agreements. “It is stated that Russia does not fulfill the Minsk agreements and we need to make a script that would motivate Russia to sit at the negotiating table and to do what she promised,” — said Poroshenko.
Member States of the European Union and also the USA and several other countries have introduced restrictive measures against Russia in 2014, linked to the accession of the Crimea, and then — with the conflict in the South-East of Ukraine. Moscow in response imposed a ban on food exports from most countries, which supported anti-Russian sanctions.
The abolition of the restrictive measures, the West is linked to the implementation by Moscow of Minsk agreements — a package of measures to stabilize the situation in the South-East of Ukraine. The document, in particular, envisages a ceasefire, the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the contact line of the warring parties, and constitutional reform in Ukraine.
Moscow has repeatedly stated that it is not a party to the conflict in the Donbass, and the responsibility for the implementation of the agreements lies on Kiev. In Russia also emphasize that the process of reunification of the Crimea is fully consistent with international norms.