EU Unlikely to Link Sanctions on Russia to Minsk Deal Implementation Monday

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) – The foreign ministers of the European Union member states are not planning to adopt a document linking anti-Russian sanctions to the implementation of the Minsk accords during a meeting on Monday, a source close to the EU leadership said Friday.

“The economic measures expire in late July, so this legislative act should be ready by late July. This issue will not be on the agenda [of the Monday meeting], so its adoption is not expected,” the source told journalists in Brussels.

On Wednesday, the Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers said in a statement that lifting the Western sanctions imposed on Russia over the ongoing Ukrainian crisis depends on the implementation of the Minsk peace deal.

The United States, the European Union and their allies imposed several rounds of sanctions targeting Russia's banking, energy and defense sectors, as well as some high-ranking individuals. The restrictions were introduced over Russia's alleged meddling in Ukraine's internal conflict. Russia has repeatedly denied its participation in the Ukraine conflict.

In February, the Normandy quartet, comprising Russia, Germany, France and Ukraine, hammered out the 13-point deal to de-escalate a year-long conflict in eastern Ukraine.