Russia Suggests West Impose Sanctions On Ukraine

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has suggested the West should impose sanctions on Kyiv to further a deal to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Speaking on March 10, Lavrov accused Ukraine of reneging on commitments he said it made under the February 12 deal reached in Minsk for a cease-fire and steps toward peace between the government and Russian-backed rebels.

Lavrov said that "full implementation of the Minsk agreements is essentially being blocked by the Kyiv authorities."

"I don't know what instruments of pressure on Kyiv the Americans and Europeans have," he said. "But maybe [they should] impose their favorite mechanism of sanctions on Kyiv in this case."

The United States and European Union have imposed sanctions on Russia over its interference in Ukraine and support for the separatists.

Lavrov claimed Kyiv has cast doubt on what he said were obligations to organize an amnesty and create "working groups" including rebels to discuss economic, political, and humanitarian issues.

Based on reporting by Interfax and TASS