Johnson says peace in east Ukraine depends mainly on Russia

Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson (L) shakes hands with Ukraine's Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin during a meeting in Kiev, Ukraine, September 14, 2016. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

KIEV (Reuters) - Britain continues to support keeping sanctions on Russia, its foreign minister Boris Johnson said during a visit to Ukraine on Wednesday, adding that London's position was unchanged by June's vote to leave the European Union.

On his first visit to Kiev since taking office, Johnson said it was primarily up to the Kremlin to make progress towards peace in eastern Ukraine, where fighting between Ukrainian troops and separatist rebels has killed more than 9,500 people.