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G7 leaders note importance of dialogue with Russia, support keeping sanctions

They agreed that it is important for Russia to play a constructive role in full implementation of Ukraine’s ceasefire agreement

ISE-SHIMA /Japan/, May 27. /TASS/. The G7 leaders noted the importance of continuing the dialogue with Russia at working meetings within the G7 summit in Japan on Thursday, though they supported keeping the economic sanctions against Moscow, NHK TV news channel reported.

Some of the participants, including the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, said it is important to influence via the continuing dialogue with Russia while others said it is necessary to keep up pressure, using economic sanctions among others, the report said. They agreed that it is important for Russia to play a constructive role in full implementation of Ukraine’s ceasefire agreement.

The first day of the summit saw the sides dwell upon the issue of anti-Russia sanctions. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it is still early to speak about their lifting while President of the European Council Donald Tusk said the EU would extend sanctions.

The G7 Summit, assembling the UK, Germany, Italy, Canada, France, Japan and the U.S., is being held in Japan’s Ise-Shima National Park (Mie Prefecture) on the Pacific Coast and will end on May 27.

Minsk provisions backed by leaders of the 'Normandy Four' group assembling Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France in the Belarussian capital in February 2015 envisaged a ceasefire between Ukrainian forces and eastern region people’s militias starting that month. A 13-point package sought withdrawal of heavy weapons from a line disengaging Kiev troops and militias alongside measures for a long-term political settlement in Donbass.