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Sanctions against Russia depend on Minsk accords implementation — G7 foreign ministers

The joint statement of G7 foreign ministers says that sanctions are not an aim in itself
Meeting of G7 Foreign Ministers in Luebeck, Germany EPA/DANIEL REINHARDT/POOL
Meeting of G7 Foreign Ministers in Luebeck, Germany
© EPA/DANIEL REINHARDT/POOL

LUBECK, April 15. /TASS/. The duration of sanctions imposed on Russia by the West over the crisis in Ukraine will depend on the implementation of the Minsk agreements, the joint statement of G7 foreign ministers said on Wednesday.

Sanctions are not an aim in itself, the document said. G7 stressed the direct link between international restricting measures and full implementation of the Minsk agreements.

The foreign ministers of UK, Germany, Canada, Italy, US, France and Japan have called on the conflicting parties in Ukraine to fully implement the Minsk agreements, noting they support the diplomatic efforts of the "Normandy Quartet."

"We call upon all sides to assume responsibility and fulfil the commitments made in the framework of the [Minsk] agreements," the G7 foreign ministers said.

Minsk accords on Ukraine

On February 12, negotiations in the so-called "Normandy format" were held in the Belarusian capital Minsk, bringing together Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. The talks lasted for around 14 hours. Simultaneously, a meeting of the Contact Group on Ukrainian settlement was held in Minsk.

As a result, the Minsk agreements were signed that envisage ceasefire in Ukraine’s south-east, heavy weaponry withdrawal, prisoner exchange, local elections in Donbass and constitutional reform in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian forces and DPR and LPR self-defense forces have repeatedly accused each other of violating the ceasefire regime in Donbas.