WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Anti-Russian sanctions will remain intact until the Minsk agreements are fully implemented, US President Barack Obama said during a joint press conference with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Friday.
“I expressed by strong belief that the European Council needs to continue the current sanctions that are now in place until we have seen full implementation of the Minsk Agreement,” Obama said.
EU Seven Vs Sanctions
© Sputnik / Vitaly Podvitski
Obama’s remarks follow the new ceasefire agreement that was reached in Minsk on February 12, 2015 by the leaders of Russia, France, Germany and Ukraine.
The Minsk deal included a ceasefire, withdrawal of heavy weapons from the line of contact between the Kiev forces and independence supporters as well as amendments to the Ukrainian constitution.
Earlier in March 2015, the European Council agreed that economic sanctions against Russia would remain in place and would be linked to the implementation of the Minsk agreements.
The restrictive measures imposed on Moscow target Russia's energy, banking and defense sectors, as well as certain individuals.
