Hollande says sanctions against Russia should be stopped now

Western sanctions against Russia should be removed if progress is made in the situation with Ukraine. This opinion was expressed by French President Francois Hollande, speaking on Monday in a live interview on radio station France Inter.

He stressed that Europe is interested in resolving the Ukrainian crisis, as the anti-Russian sanctions have a negative impact on the European economy.

"If there is a crisis in Russia, this is not necessarily good for Europe.... I think that sanctions should be stopped now. If there is progress, they should be removed. If there is no progress, sanctions will remain," RIA Novosti quotes his words.

The Russian president does not have the goal of annexing eastern Ukraine, the main goal of Vladimir Putin is to keep Ukraine from joining the North Atlantic Alliance, Hollande said.

The president of France said that Moscow should respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine and stop "supporting the separatists."

Economic sanctions against Russian businesses and individuals have been introduced against the background of the Ukrainian crisis. Russia has repeatedly stated that it is not involved in the events in the east of Ukraine.