G7 ministers: lifting Russia sanctions is tied to fulfilling Minsk

LUEBECK, Germany (Reuters) - Western sanctions against Russia can only be lifted once Moscow fulfils the ceasefire agreement signed in Minsk in February and respects Ukraine's sovereignty, foreign ministers from the Group of Seven foreign ministers said in Germany on Wednesday.

"The G7 underlines the close linkage between full implementation of the Minsk Agreements and international sanctions," they said in a joint communique at the end of their meeting in the northern German city of Luebeck.