You're reading: Steinmeier says anti-Russian sanctions can be lessened if there is progress on Minsk Agreements

TALLINN - German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has proposed gradually lessening the sanctions against Russia if there is progress in the implementation of the Minsk Agreements, BNS reports.

“I hope there will be progress [in the Minsk Agreements’ implementation] by the end of June, and then we’ll see whether we can gradually lessen the sanctions or will extend the current measures,” Steinmeier told journalists at a press conference in Tallinn on May 27.

There is no alternative in resolving the Ukraine crisis to the political agreement already achieved with the parties’ consent, he said.