BERLIN, October 16. /TASS/. The European Union’s sanctions imposed against Russia over Moscow’s stance toward the developments in neighboring Ukraine is an important mechanism of pressure on Russia but not the goal in itself, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday.

“We are looking for a dialogue with Russia. Sanctions do not exclude dialogue,” Merkel said ahead of the Asia-Europe summit meeting, scheduled to be held in Italy’s Milan on October 16-17.

According to the German chancellor, EU seeks “the implementation of the Minsk agreements, the withdrawal of Russian troops from the border and the regional elections in the east of Ukraine in compliance with the Ukrainian legislation.”

However, she said it must be Russia to “make the decisive contribution into the deescalation of the situation” in Ukraine.