You're reading: Sanctions to stay put as EU Council adopts resolution on Ukraine

BRUSSELS - The European Union's foreign ministers passed a resolution on the situation in Ukraine on Oct. 20 which makes no mention of a possible revocation of the anti-Russian sanctions.

The resolution says that the foreign ministers welcomed abating the scope of violence as a result of the ceasefire, but expresses regret about and condemns its numerous violations.

The EU Foreign Affairs Council expects all parties to fulfill the remaining obligations under the Minsk agreements strictly and quickly, the resolution says. Russia bears responsibility in this context and should remove all illegal military formations, weaponry, fighters and mercenaries, and guarantee the security of the Ukrainian-Russian border under the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s permanent control, it says.

An interim agreement to restart gas shipments from Russia to Ukraine, based on the outcome of the most recent trilateral meeting, must be signed as soon as possible, the resolution says.