Moscow, Russia : France hopes that international sanctions imposed on Russia for its intervention in Ukraine will be lifted "this summer," French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday.
"The goal that we all share is to be able to lift the sanctions this summer because the (Minsk peace) process will have been respected," Macron told French business executives during a visit to Moscow.
The Minsk peace deal is a package of measures agreed by the leaders of France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia in the Belarusian capital.
The accords, finalised in early 2015, effectively brought hostilities in Ukraine to an end after more than 9,000 people were killed in a civil war that broke out the previous April.
However, a ceasefire agreed in September remains fragile.
Last Friday, Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday held out the prospect of lifting the sanctions if the Minsk agreement is implemented in full.
"With effort and with bona-fide legitimate intent to solve the problem on both sides, it is possible in these next months to find those Minsk agreements implemented," Kerry said in a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
This would allow Russia "to get to a place where sanctions can be appropriately -- because of the full implementation -- removed," he said.
"The goal that we all share is to be able to lift the sanctions this summer because the (Minsk peace) process will have been respected," Macron told French business executives during a visit to Moscow.
The Minsk peace deal is a package of measures agreed by the leaders of France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia in the Belarusian capital.
However, a ceasefire agreed in September remains fragile.
Advertisement
"With effort and with bona-fide legitimate intent to solve the problem on both sides, it is possible in these next months to find those Minsk agreements implemented," Kerry said in a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Macron Says France Will Continue To Support Ukraine "As Long As Necessary" Opinion: Opinion | Emmanuel Macron's Problems Have Just Begun Disaster Averted But Emmanuel Macron Still Faces Big Challenge Ahead What Trump Rally Shooter Did On Last Day Of His Life "No Defamatory Remarks Against Governor": High Court To Mamata Banerjee Under-Fire Trainee IAS Officer Accuses Pune Collector Of Harassment Four In Five Americans Fear Country Is Sliding Into Chaos: Polls Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 Launched In India; Prices Start At Rs. 2.39 Lakh Admission Deadline Extended For EWS And Special Needs Children Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.