BRUSSELS
The European Parliament has voted to maintain EU sanctions against Russia.
MEPs condemned what they called "acts of terrorism" in Ukraine and urged the EU to help Kiev carry out reforms and enhance its defense capabilities.
The parliament said in a news release on Thursday: ''EU sanctions against Russia should stay in place until it changes its aggressive policy in Ukraine, respects the cease-fire, withdraws its troops and stops supporting separatists.''
The European Parliament’s resolution comes 10 days after French President Francois Hollande said he wanted Western sanctions on Russia lifted if progress was made in talks over the Ukraine crisis.
Russia’s state news agency Itar-Tass reported that seven countries: Austria, Hungary, Italy, Greek Cypriot administration, Slovakia, France and the Czech Republic support lifting the sanctions.
