VILNIUS, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- The European Union will not consider lifting its sanctions on Russia until the implementation of Minsk agreements, however, the EU's dialogue with Russia must be maintained, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said here Friday.
"Ukraine's territorial integrity has not been restored and this remains to be a key topic. We will not consider lifting sanctions on Russia until the Minsk agreements are implemented," Merkel told a joint press conference with Lithuania's President Dalia Grybauskaite.
Speaking about Germany-Russia bilateral relations, the Chancellor said that negotiations are possible with Russia. In her words, Germany must continue talking to the sides of the conflict, adding that recent events in Syria have exacerbated the conflict.
According to Merkel, opinions with Russia differ on many issues, but coincide on the Iran nuclear agreement.
