European Parliament (EP) President Martin Schulz has said that the EU will maintain its sanctions against Russia until the Minsk agreements are fully implemented.
“We will continue the sanctions until the day the letter and spirit of the Minsk agreements are fully complied with, and the international obligations are met,” he said while speaking in the Ukrainian parliament on Friday.
Schulz said the European Parliament has called on all involved parties to respect and implement the agreements which have been reached, to maintain the ceasefire, withdraw all Russian troops, weapons, Russian-backed illegal armed groups and mercenaries from Ukraine, to ensure full control over the border by the Ukrainian authorities and the exchange of hostages, and to hold decentralization reforms and free and fair local elections under the supervision of the OSCE.
He recalled that in June, the European Parliament condemned Russia for its aggressive policy, including an information war and economic measures, which the country uses against its neighbors.
“The return to cooperation with Moscow depends on whether Russia will respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, including Crimea,” Schulz added.
