EU sanctions against Russia unrelated to Minsk deal

Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Jan Tombinski said this in a radio interview. Failure to fulfil the Minsk agreements was not the reason for the anti-Russian sanctions, Tombinski said. The sanctions were imposed because of the "illegal annexation of Crimea, aggression against Ukraine and violation of Ukrainian sovereignty", he said, adding that everyone making a decision to extend the sanctions would analyze whether reasons for those sanctions remained. He added that the Minsk agreements were reached in a later period for the purposes of stabilization of the political conflict. It is hard to say what may happen in six months' time, the ambassador said. The EU understands that Russia is not fulfilling the Minsk agreements, he said. As to mirror trade sanctions of Ukraine against Russia he believes it is not a wise move. At the same time, the EU agrees that Russia's latest restrictions on Ukrainian trade and transit to Central Asia openly breached international trade rules. Tombinski will end his ambassadorial mission to Kyiv in late August.