In the EU, said the lack of progress in the implementation of the Minsk agreements – RBC

The head of the European Council Donald Tusk

Photo: Wiktor Dabkowski / TASS

The head of the European Council Donald Tusk said that sanctions against Russia will be lifted only when the implementation of the Minsk agreements. However, according to him, they are now being implemented more slowly than expected

According to the head of the European Council Donald Tusk, European Union, like all countries the G7, still believes that the crisis in the south-east of Ukraine may be allowed only “in full accordance with international law”, in particular “respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine».

«I want to make clear that our position towards Russia, including economic sanctions will remain unchanged as long as Minsk agreement are not met in full “, – Tusk said, speaking on the eve of G7 summit in Japan

at the same time, the head of the European Council noted that now. the implementation of these agreements is moving much slower than expected.

«Unfortunately, [we see] much less progress in the implementation of the Minsk agreements, which we had hoped a year ago in Ellmau [at the G7 summit in 2015],” – said Tusk

Earlier, May 20, Bloomberg agency reports citing unnamed officials from six European Union reported that the EU countries have agreed to extend the imposed sanctions against Russia for another six months.. Agency interlocutors stressed that the representatives of all 28 member states of the EU agreed that the lifting of sanctions should follow after the full implementation of the Minsk agreements. This Bloomberg emphasized that among his companions were including representatives of countries that are “less likely support sanctions».

The agency notes that the extension of sanctions, scheduled for June, will postpone the decision on their possible weakening until December when replaced by the presidential administration in the United States.