Angelina Timofeeva. The lifting of sanctions with Russia due to the implementation of the Minsk agreements, said on Thursday German Chancellor Angela Merkel, speaking in the Bundestag.

"Our position in relation to imposed on the Russian Federation to the sanctions associated with the implementation of the Minsk agreement, and such it remains," said Merkel.

According to the Chancellor of Germany, held September, the ceasefire, withdrawal of heavy weapons from the separation line in the Donbass, as well as the postponement of elections in Donetsk and Luhansk were "shadows of hope" on the implementation of the Minsk agreements.

"I'm still talking about shade of hope, which now gives us a chance to come to a political settlement," - said Merkel.

Relations between Russia and the West deteriorated in connection with the situation in Ukraine. At the end of July 2014, the EU and the US from point penalties against certain individuals and organizations have moved to the measures against entire sectors of the Russian economy.

The EU is obliged to consider the question of waiver or extension of anti-Russian sanctions in January 2016.

Moscow has stated many times that completely uninvolved in the events in the South-East of Ukraine, does not supply the militia military equipment and ammunition, not a party to domestic conflict and is interested in Ukraine overcame political and economic crisis. Moscow agitating Kiev to establish a direct dialogue with the proclaimed republics of the Donbas.

sections: Politics