Poroshenko thanks EU for extending sanctions against Russia

He wrote this on his Facebook page.

"I welcome the unanimous approval of the decision of the Council of the European Union to extend economic and sectoral sanctions against Russia for brutal aggression against Ukraine until January 31, 2019," Poroshenko said.

He recalled that the demands to Russia are clear - full implementation of the Minsk agreements, withdrawal of Russian troops from the Donbas, deployment of UN peacekeepers, restoration of control over the state border, release of Ukrainian political prisoners and hostages held by Russia, and return of Crimea.

At the same time, Poroshenko noted that during the next "Ukrainian" week in Brussels, when the EU-Ukraine and NATO summits take place, he would continue to work with leaders of the EU and the Euro-Atlantic community on developing a strategy to counter Russia's threat.

op