The US and the EU are ready to introduce new sanctions against Russia. US President Barack Obama and European leaders during a joint video conference confirmed their readiness in case of violation of the Minsk agreements.
Earlier, the United States and its European allies were ready to strengthen sanctions against Russia in case of conflict escalation in Ukraine, the press service of Germany’s government said.
"They reaffirmed their support for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Eastern Ukraine," the White House stated after a conversation between US President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron, French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and European Commission President Donald Tusk.
“The leaders expressed their hope for the successful and complete implementation of the Minsk agreements and agreed that the easing of current sanctions would be linked to the full implementation of these agreements,” RIA Novosti cited the statement.
In addition, Obama and the EU leaders called on all parties to the conflict to cease all military actions, cooperate with the OSCE monitors and complete the exchange of prisoners. They also emphasized their support for the OSCE and the need for its monitors to have full and unfettered access to the entire area of conflict, and they discussed ways to strengthen OSCE monitoring activities, the White House said.
