Poroshenko might have tried to agree on extension of anti-Russian sanctions in Berlin - Lavrov
MOSCOW. Sept 1 (Interfax) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov does not rule out that Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko might have discussed an extension of anti-Russian sanctions with the French president and the German federal chancellor in Berlin last week.
"Kyiv authorities are publicly declaring that since Russia is not fulfilling the Minsk agreements the sanctions imposed in September of last year will be extended. I do not know, this is probably what Poroshenko tried to agree upon with Merkel and Hollande, let us wait and see," Lavrov said in his speech at MGIMO University on September 1.
"We are paying attention to the subject of sanctions only from the point of view of being prepared inside the country for such tricks from our Western partners and not depending on them in the areas vital to our country and our citizens," he said.
Poroshenko said in his televised address regarding clashes near the Verkhovna Rada in Kyiv on Monday that an extension of individual and sectoral sanctions against Russia should be expected in case of Russia's non-fulfillment of obligations under the Minsk agreements.
