Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, stated that Moscow has shown some willingness to resolve the Ukraine issue and has sent "positive signals." According to AFP, Mogherini, who visited Riga, Latvia, on Thursday, January 9, to mark Latvia's six-month presidency of the EU, added that "what is important is the assessment of the Ukrainian leadership regarding these signals," and the EU must support them in utilizing these signals to address the issue. The EU's foreign policy chief emphasized that the sanctions imposed by the EU and the U.S. against Russia will only be lifted with the full implementation of the "Minsk Agreement." The Ukrainian government and pro-Russian rebels agreed to a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine under this agreement signed in September in Minsk, Belarus. Mogherini also noted that Moscow has a "different approach and attitude" towards other issues such as nuclear negotiations with Iran and the Syrian crisis. Regarding a meeting of leaders from Russia, Ukraine, France, and Germany by the end of January in Astana, Kazakhstan, she mentioned that they are awaiting the visit of Edgars Rinkēvičs, Latvia's foreign minister and the EU's rotating president, to Moscow in the coming days to discuss with Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, before deciding on the confirmation of this meeting. German Chancellor Angela Merkel emphasized the necessity of fully implementing the Minsk Agreement, stating that the sanctions related to the annexation of Crimea by Russia are a separate issue and will remain until this region is returned to Ukraine.
Mogherini: Moscow has sent positive signals regarding Ukraine
Federica Mogherini announced that Moscow has shown willingness to resolve the Ukraine crisis, sending positive signals. The EU is prepared to support Ukraine's leadership in leveraging these signals, but sanctions against Russia will remain until the Minsk Agreement is fully implemented. This is significant as it reflects ongoing geopolitical tensions and the EU's role in mediating the conflict.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Mogherini indicates Moscow's positive signals on Ukraine, linking sanctions to Iran nuclear negotiations.
- Federica Mogherini announce Moscow
- European Union negotiate Ukraine
- European Union and U.S. sanction Russia
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Mogherini's remarks indicate a potential shift in Russia's approach that could affect multiple international negotiations.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%