Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Russia, Jean-Maurice Ripert, said that Paris hopes that sanctions against Russia will be lifted as soon as possible.
"We have more than once voiced our position that sanctions are not a goal in themselves. Sanctions are creating difficulties both for Russia and Europe. So we hope that we will be able to lift them as soon as possible," he said.
"The sanctions are linked with the implementation of the Minsk agreements," he added.
"This is the reason why we have been calling on Kiev and Moscow to show responsibility so that the Minsk agreements are implemented as soon as possible," the French ambassador stressed.
