Washington, DC - Yesterday marked the somber third anniversary of the signing of the Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements‎. Sadly, Russia continues to disregard its commitments under the Minsk agreements, stoking a hot conflict in Ukraine that has cost over 10,000 lives, including more than 2,500 civilians, and has displaced 1.6 million Ukrainians.

Russia continues ‎to deny its direct involvement, while Russian-led forces intimidate and deny secure access to unarmed OSCE monitors and suppress the work of independent media and civil society.‎ Ukraine has passed legislation—including amnesty for anti-government forces and special status for the Donbas—indicating Ukraine's desire to implement the Minsk agreements.‎

Working closely with France and Germany, the United States continues to urge the Russian government to cease its aggression in Ukraine. The United States takes this opportunity to reiterate that our sanctions will remain in place until Russia fully implements its commitments under the Minsk agreements. Our separate Crimea-related sanctions will remain in place until Russia returns the peninsula to Ukraine.