Moscow would be expected to assist with the local election in eastern Ukraine, which is to take place as part of the landmark Minsk accords that was sealed by France, Germany, Russia, and Ukraine in February of 2015 to put an end to the Ukrainian crisis.
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Spooked by Russia’s actions, the eastern European states have lobbied the US-led alliance to increase its presence, and Lithuania’s defence ministry said last month that Germany “plans forming a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation battalion group” in the country.
“If there is no progress, an evaluation will also be necessary”, he said.
Speaking on Friday in Tallinn, Estonia, Mr. Steinmeier said it would become clear late next month “whether we can relax sanctions gradually or whether we have to stick with the current measures”. Beside that, President of the European Council noted that decision on extension of anti-Russian sanctions will be made in two or three weeks.
G7 countries have kept sanctions against Russian Federation in place until full implementation of the Minsk agreements.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has ordered to draft proposals to extend Moscow’s food embargo until the end of 2017.
The duration of sanctions is clearly linked to Russia’s complete implementation of the Minsk agreements and respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty.
European Union sanctions on Russia’s banking, defence and energy sectors imposed over its actions in Ukraine expire in July, and extending them requires the unanimous agreement of all 28 member states.
Norbert Röttgen, chairman of parliament’s foreign-affairs committee and a Merkel ally, said on Friday: ” There’s no reason to change course.
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However, Rolf Mützenich, lawmaker with the Social Democrats and foreign-policy expert, said the disagreement between the ruling partners in Berlin mirrored long-standing differences of views within Europe.
