On the first day of their summit, the leaders of the 28 countries of the European Union announced that economic sanctions against Russia will be clearly linked to the complete implementation of the Minsk agreements.
European Council President Donald Tusk said at a press conference that the "leaders agreed that the duration of economic sanctions will be clearly linked to the complete implementation of the Minsk agreements, brokered by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande, bearing in mind that this is only foreseen by the end of 2015."
According to Tusk, "the European Union summit made a political decision to support sanctions against the Russian Federation until the Minsk agreements are implemented in full."
French President Francois Hollande, in his turn, said that the European Council in June will consider the question of whether to extend the sanctions against Russia. "The European Council in June will consider the question of whether to extend the sanctions against Russia. The need to link implementation of the Minsk agreements with sanctions was identified today at the summit. This is an important step," TASS cited him as saying.
Hollande said that "if, on the other hand, the situation remains stable and improves, then we might envisage a re-examination of the scale of the sanctions package. This is a very simple mechanism," the President said. At present, according to the French President, "the Minsk agreements are only partially executed."The prime minister of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel said that "decision on further anti-Russia sanctions should depends on the situation in Ukraine". Automatic renewal is counterproductive," he said.In addition, the summit instructed EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini to draw up a strategy to counter Russian "disinformation campaigns". "We stressed the need to challenge Russia's ongoing campaign of public disinformation about the conflict in Ukraine. The High Representative will prepare an action plan on strategic communication for the June European Council," Tusk said."The European Council urged all parties to implement the Minsk Agreement fully and within the deadline," the final statement of the leaders of the EU said.In addition, the EU leaders recommended urgently providing the third package of macro-financial assistance to Ukraine worth EUR 1.8 billion.
Hollande said that "if, on the other hand, the situation remains stable and improves, then we might envisage a re-examination of the scale of the sanctions package. This is a very simple mechanism," the President said.
At present, according to the French President, "the Minsk agreements are only partially executed."
The prime minister of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel said that "decision on further anti-Russia sanctions should depends on the situation in Ukraine". Automatic renewal is counterproductive," he said.
In addition, the summit instructed EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini to draw up a strategy to counter Russian "disinformation campaigns". "We stressed the need to challenge Russia's ongoing campaign of public disinformation about the conflict in Ukraine. The High Representative will prepare an action plan on strategic communication for the June European Council," Tusk said.
"The European Council urged all parties to implement the Minsk Agreement fully and within the deadline," the final statement of the leaders of the EU said.
In addition, the EU leaders recommended urgently providing the third package of macro-financial assistance to Ukraine worth EUR 1.8 billion.
