Merkel plans to extend sanctions against Russia due to non-compliance with Minsk Agreements
A joint press conference was held on Monday in Berlin with the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, and the Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel in which Merkel stated that the sanctions against Russia will be extended due to the non-implementation of the Minsk Agreements.
“We have to extend sanctions against Russia as we take into consideration the fact that the Minsk Agreements have still not been put into effect. The implementation of these agreements should be a precondition for lifting sanctions, but these agreements are not respected by Russia,” Merkel said.
Merkel added that President Poroshenko has proven once again that Kiev implements the Minsk Agreements. “We will support Kiev and the implementation of the Minsk Agreements in particular, through the International Monetary Fund (IMF) support program. That is why both Berlin and Paris will continue to support Ukraine,” the Chancellor of Germany added.
According to Merkel, the situation in the Donbas will continue to be discussed. “Despite all efforts, we still cannot see a full ceasefire. That is why we have to continue to work in this direction. We will try to discuss the situation in Donetsk and Lugansk once again. We have to agree on a guarantee of peace,” Merkel noted.
Special Envoy of the German Chancellor, Christoph Hoysgen and a French Presidential Envoy, Jacques Audibert, recently visited Ukraine. It was reported that these parties discussed the implementation of the Minsk Agreements and in particular, the withdrawal of heavy weapons as well as the release of all hostages.