Steinmeier: too Early to lift sanctions against Russia

The Minister of foreign Affairs of Germany noted the stagnation in the implementation of the Minsk agreements.

The EU does not see significant steps in the implementation of the Minsk agreements by Russia, and therefore to talk about the easing of sanctions against the country prematurely. This was stated by foreign Minister of Germany and current Chairman of the OSCE , Frank-Walter Steinmeier in an interview with the German Funke media group, reports Deutsche Welle.

Steinmeier noted the stagnation in the implementation of the Minsk agreements, saying that “the parties to the conflict literally buried in their trenches (negotiating positions)”.

“The ceasefire regime is violated in the future, in resolving major political issues we have also not moved,” the Ministersaid .

In this regard, Steinmeier said that it was premature to talk of easing sanctions against Russia.

“When they made strides in the implementation of the Minsk agreements, then we can think about relevant developments regarding sanctions,” he said.

The annexation of Crimea, the Chairman of the OSCE called “a violation of international law” and “our European peace order.”

“We do not recognize the inclusion of Crimea in structure of territory of Russia,” he said.