BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — The foreign ministers of the European Union have postponed implementing a new round of sanctions against Russia over the Ukrainian crisis until February 16, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Monday.
"This morning the question was raised of sanctions that were taken in regard to what happened in Mariupol [Ukraine]," Fabius told journalists on the sidelines of the EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels.
Fighting between Kiev forces and eastern Ukrainian independence supporters in Mariupol flared up earlier in the month.
"The principles of sanctions in regard to Mariupol remain, but they will be used depending on the situation there. We will discuss the situation by [next] Monday and see if the Minsk meeting gives any results and then make our conclusions," Fabius said.