The European Union is likely to keep economic sanctions on Russia until the Ukraine cease-fire agreements are fully implemented.

Speaking to reporters before a two-day EU summit in Brussels, EU Council President Donald Tusk said Russia should be pressured through sanctions until a Ukraine cease-fire agreement would be fully observed.

“One of the best ways of supporting Ukraine will be through upholding the sanctions’ pressure on Russia until we witness a full implementation of the Minsk agreement. This must ultimately conclude in Ukraine regaining control of its borders as foreseen in the plan brokered by [French] President [Francois] Hollande and [German] Chancellor [Angela] Merkel,” Tusk said.

Chancellor Angela Merkel told Germany’s lower house of parliament (Bundestag), before leaving for Brussels, that she would strongly encourage EU leaders to maintain sanctions until Russia comes to terms with Minsk agreements to end the hostilities in eastern-Ukraine.

“We cannot and will not lift the sanctions that expire in July or September until the demands of the Minsk agreement have been fulfilled. That would be wrong,” said Merkel.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk warned also on Thursday against the possibility of easing the EU sanctions imposed on Russia. Speaking after a meeting with Tusk, Yatsenyuk said an easing of sanctions against Russia could be a victory for President Vladimir Putin.

“I strongly reject any debates on easing of sanctions. What we can talk about, we can talk about the rollover and the way how to scale up sanctions in case if Russia is not eager to implement the Minsk deal. Because, look, what is the success of President Putin? What is the formula of Russian stability? This is instability in the EU and if Putin splits the unity among EU member states and among the leaders of the EU member countries, this will be the biggest success story of President Putin and this will be the disaster for the free world,” said Yatseny.

It is required that all EU governments agree to renew economic sanctions on Russia that expire in July, but governments are sharply divided.

A shaky cease-fire has been in place in eastern Ukraine after a new agreement was reached last month in Minsk.

More than 6,000 people have lost their lives in the year-long conflict in eastern Ukraine between government forces and pro-Russian separatists.

Some material for this report came from AP and Reuters.
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