Certain countries of Europe, including Cyprus, are continuing to express their desire to improve relationship with Moscow. However Angela Merkel said that economic sanctions against Russia will have to be prolonged due to the situation in Ukraine.
Her view was supported by the French President Mr. Francois Hollande. The sanctions were prolonged numerous times and currently they are active until end of January 2017.
One of the conditions for the removal of sanctions is the fulfillment of the Minsk Agreements concerning Ukraine.