Brussels, 10/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 9 March, European Council President Donald Tusk stated that the sanctions against Russia would be maintained until the Minsk agreements are fully implemented.
“We are united on the need for full implementation of the Minsk agreement and in our determination to maintain the sanctions against Russia until the agreement is fully implemented”, Tusk stated before meeting US President Barack Obama. Obama said that part of their discussion would focus on the effective monitoring of what is happening on the ground in Ukraine, and on how to continue maintaining pressure on Russia and the separatists so that they respect the agreements. “We have been able to maintain strong unity with regard to the sanctions”, Obama stated. Tusk and Obama were expected to discuss the financial aid that could be brought to the Ukrainian economy.
They also underlined that transatlantic unity was “stronger than it's ever been”, as Obama stated. In addition to Ukraine, they also mentioned the fight against Islamic State (IS) and foreign fighters, and the transatlantic trade and investment partnership agreement (TTIP). In Tusk's view, these challenges are “very difficult” and have a common denominator - the “need for unity between Europe and the United States”. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)