Russian Foreign Minister claims sanctions harm the implementation of the Minsk agreements
Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov stated that the European Union "invites Ukraine to sabotage the Minsk Agreements" and that Russia ends up paying for it. At a meeting with his Italian colleague, Enzo Moavero Milanesi, Lavrov accused Ukraine again of not implementing the Minsk Agreements, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated.
Lavrov still denies that the Russian Federation violates the Minsk agreements. He accused Ukraine of not conducting a dialogue with the Russian-backed DPR and LPR.
The Head of Russian diplomacy stated that some EU countries "advocate the idea to solve the issue of sanctions against Russia and to be guided by European interests" but he did not mention any EU member state that would support this.
On September14, German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated that anti-Russian sanctions will remain in force until there is a progress in the implementation of the Minsk Agreements regarding ceasefire in the East of Ukraine.
As was reported, on September 13, the EU Council made a decision to extend individual sanctions for half a year against a number of Russian individuals and companies. According to the document, restrictions are extended because of “actions undermining or threatening territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine". 155 individuals and 44 organizations are subjected to them.
Individual sanctions of the European Union were first imposed on March 17, 2014 and continued to be extended every half a year.