EU should not rule out strengthening of sanctions against Russia – Grybauskaite

"The European Council agreed that the duration of sanctions against Russia is linked to the complete implementation of the Minsk agreements. We are nowhere near that. Russia continues to send its troops and military equipment to Donbas in direct violation of the Minsk agreements. Therefore I do not see a reason to discuss lifting sanctions or rolling them back," she said. According to Grybauskaite, "sanctions are the only thing that could force Russia to take its Minsk commitments seriously." "And if the situation in Ukraine deteriorates, all options should be on the table for the EU to consider how to increase the cost of Russian involvement," President of Lithuania noted.