As the crisis in Ukraine has unfolded, EU-Russian relations have reached their lowest point since the end of the Cold War. We welcome the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine and ask all sides to respect it. Further sanctions should be implemented only if Russia continues to escalate the crisis in Ukraine. 

However, the EU should focus on supporting direct talks between Ukraine and Russia, as well as OSCE (the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe), in its efforts to assist Ukraine with regaining stability and implementing crucial political and economic reforms.

The territorial integrity of Ukraine must be respected. Russia's international partners still expect Russia to cease supporting pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine and to stop the flow of military equipment and soldiers through the Russian-Ukrainian border.