You're reading: Poroshenko says separatist ID recognition by Russia should bring tougher sanctions

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko believes sanctions against Russia should be stepped up after it recognized documents of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions beyond Kyiv control.

“From the point of view of international law this is an element of recognition of these illegal units and the de facto refusal from the Minsk process, because those steps are not compatible with the implementation of the Minsk agreements. We believe that this is an extremely disturbing phenomenon and it requires decisive actions up to strengthening the sanctions,” the presidential press service quoted Poroshenko as saying at a meeting in Kyiv with European Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs Christos Stylianides.