German Minister of Foreign Affairs and current Chairman of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed hope that the exchange of hostages between the parties to the conflict in Donbas will be held before Christmas. He said this in an interview with German media group Funke. Steinmeier noted stagnation in the implementation of the Minsk agreements. In this connection Steinmeier said it was premature talk of a weakening of sanctions against Russia.The OSCE chairman called Crimea annexation a "violation of international law" and "our European peace order."
