Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, shakes hands with German Chancellor Angela Merkel after their talks at Putin's residence in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia, on Tuesday. (AP photo)German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that European Union sanctions will have to remain on Russia given the lack of progress in resolving the simmering conflict in Ukraine. Merkel said that she would like to be able to lift the economic penalties but the Minsk process remains “arduous” with small steps forward and steps back. “My goal remains to get to the point where we can lift EU sanctions,” Merkel told reporters. As well as Ukraine, Merkel and Putin discussed Syria and the G-20 summit in Hamburg in July, when both the Russian and US presidents are due to meet for the first time.

Source: Bangkok Post May 02, 2017 13:41 UTC