Tusk presses EU leaders to pledge to keep sanctions on Russia
ROME/BRUSSELS, March 16 (Reuters) -- European Council President Donald Tusk is pressing EU leaders to pledge this week to keep sanctions on Russia until a Ukraine ceasefire deal is fully in place, effectively extending sanctions until at least the end of the year.
Europe must maintain pressure on Russia with sanctions until Ukraine has full control of its borders, Tusk said in an interview with several newspapers published on Monday.
"I'm sceptical about the goodwill of the Russians and I'm convinced that what's needed is to maintain pressure," he was quoted as saying by Italian daily La Stampa, one of six European newspapers which took part in the interview.
"We have to keep up sanctions until there is full respect for the (Minsk) agreements. That is until Kiev is responsible for its national frontiers," he was quoted as saying.
EU economic sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine conflict are due to expire in July. Some EU governments want the bloc to act now to renew them, while other want to delay a decision to see how a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine develops.
Tusk is pressing EU leaders, meeting in Brussels on Thursday and Friday, to decide this week that sanctions will not be lifted until Minsk is fulfilled and Ukraine regains control over its eastern border, a senior EU official said.