PARIS (Sputnik) – French President Francois Hollande spoke in favor on Tuesday of extending anti-Russia sanctions until there was progress in situation in Ukraine.
"Minsk agreements must be applied in Ukraine … I support extension of the sanctions until there is progress, as does the chancellor [of Germany Angela Merkel]," Hollande said ahead of his meeting with the German leader.
Kiev launched a special military operation in Ukraine’s southeast in April 2014, after local residents refused to recognize the new Ukrainian authorities, which came to power as a result of a coup.
The Normandy Four, which comprises Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany, was created in 2014 to secure a peaceful settlement to the conflict in Ukraine. The group has held several rounds of talks on Ukrainian reconciliation, with the most recent one on Wednesday in Berlin.

