Russia needs to quit Ukraine before sanctions talks begin, says Poroshenko

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko attends a press briefing with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (not pictured) after talks at Abe's official residence in Tokyo, Japan, April 6, 2016. REUTERS/Kimimasa Mayama/Pool

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - No talks on lifting Western sanctions against Russia should take place until Moscow completely withdraws its military presence from Ukraine, President Petro Poroshenko said on Thursday.

Any sanctions relief in return for a partial fulfilment by Russia of the conditions of the Minsk peace deal "will be a direct threat to solving the situation in Donbass," the region of eastern Ukraine where pro-Russian separatists are battling Ukrainian government forces.