EU to continue maintain anti-Russian sanctions until hostilities in Ukraine end - European Commission

BRUSSELS. Aug 19 (Interfax) - The European Union is certain that its anti-Russian sanctions are hurting Russia's economy and that it should continue to exert pressure on Russia, European Commission spokesperson Arianna Podesta said.

"Sanctions that were maintaining pressure on Russia was indeed one of the topics discussed at yesterday's meeting [in Washington]. Europe will continue to maintain this pressure until we have a just and lasting peace for Ukraine," Podesta told a briefing in Brussels on Tuesday.

She was asked whether the EU could abandon its 19th package in case bilateral peace talks on Ukraine and subsequent trilateral ones were successful.

As long as the hostilities continue in Ukraine, "Europe will maintain its economic pressure on Russia," Podesta said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said the EU will continue tightening its sanctions and will present the 19th package in September, the spokesperson said.

The EU continues working to secure a lasting peace, as it has done in the past few years, i.e. applying sanctions and providing comprehensive aid to Ukraine, "to the administration, military, to the population, etc.," Podesta said in reply to additional questions.

"And we also at the same time continue to strengthen our own defense forces, while we work with our partners on building security guarantees that can protect vital security interests of Europe and Ukraine. So our agenda does no change," Podesta said.