John Kerry: Sanctions will be lifted once Minsk Agreements are implemented
US Secretary of State John Kerry stated that sanctions against Russia will be lifted on the condition that the Minsk Agreements are fully implemented by Moscow.
"I repeat the promise of the President of the US Barack Obama that sanctions will be lifted after the withdrawal of troops and weapons, and the restoration of the sovereignty of the Ukrainian border," Kerry said on Thursday in Moscow.
According to Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov, Moscow and Washington do not disagree on the lack of an alternative on the Minsk Agreements.
"Despite all the nuances, we have no discords concerning the lack of an alternative in the implementation of the Minsk Agreements including direct dialogue of Kiev with Donetsk and Luhansk and such issues as ensuring security and advancing the political process," Lavrov said.
On March 24, US Secretary of State John Kerry met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The main topics of discussion were Ukraine and Syria.
The US and EU imposed sanctions against Russia in response to its supporting separatists who control a part of eastern Ukraine. Moscow rejects any accusations and says that there are only volunteers in the Donbas region.
The Minsk Agreements envisage the withdrawal of all foreign formations, military weapons and mercenaries from the territory of Ukraine.