President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko expressed gratitude to the EU leaders for agreeing to prolong sanctions against Russia.
"Important news from Brussels - a political decision to extend economic sanctions against the aggressor has been made," Petro Poroshenko wrote on Facebook.
"I thank Chancellor Merkel and President Macron for an objective assessment of the situation in the Donbass and clear responsibility of the Kremlin for not complying with the Minsk Agreements," the Ukrainian president went on. "I am deeply grateful to all our friends in the EU for the unbreakable unity and solidarity with Ukraine."
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He stressed: "The price for aggression will continue to increase if the Kremlin continues to undermine the peace process," noting that "with one voice we will be able to force the aggressor to retreat, respect international law and restore the territorial integrity of Ukraine!"
As UNIAN reported earlier, EU leaders on June 29 agreed to extend for another six months economic sanctions against the Russian Federation over its illegal annexation of Crimea and support of militants in eastern Ukraine.
UNIAN memo. In 2014, the EU introduced economic sanctions against Russia, targeting specific sectors of the Russian economy. In March 2015, EU leaders agreed to tie the restrictions to the implementation of Minsk agreements. Since then, the EU repeatedly prolonged said sanctions.
