BERLIN, Nov. 18 -- The United States and five European Union (EU) countries expressed their support for continuing sanctions against Russia in connection with the Ukraine conflict, the Obama administration announced on Friday.
The statement came after U.S. President Barack Obama met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and the heads of government of Italy, Spain and Britain.
All the heads of state agreed that the penalties should remain in force as long as Russia did not fulfill all the obligations arising from the Minsk armistice agreement, said the statement published by the White House.
The fact that no permanent ceasefire was adhered to is worrying, said the statement, adding that security must be guaranteed and free and fair elections must be held in the occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk.
According to the statement, the participants of the meeting also made a commitment to cooperate with NATO in the future.
Obama's last official meeting with his European partners also touched upon the fight against Islamic State in Syria, Iraq and Libya as well as the refugee crisis.
The meeting marked Obama's farewell visit to Europe before the U.S. president leaves office in January.
体坛英语资讯:Super 14 rugby competition to be expanded to 15 teams from 2011
体坛英语资讯:Palmeiras signs Henrique with hopes of bringing the midfield to life
体坛英语资讯:Roger Federer wins tennis Madrid Masters in straight sets
体坛英语资讯:Nadal wins fourth season title in Conde de Godo
体坛英语资讯:All six more athletes identified for doping at Beijing Olympics
体坛英语资讯:Celtics forward Garnett undergoes surgery
体坛英语资讯:Wolfsburg suffer heavy setback in German Bundesliga
体坛英语资讯:Veteran Russian shooter grabs first gold of Munich shooting World Cup
体坛英语资讯:Sharapova fights hard to make winning return after injury
体坛英语资讯:Wolfsburg crowned 1st Bundesliga title
体坛英语资讯:Austrian swimmer breaks European record of womens 200m breaststroke
体坛英语资讯:Olympic champion Bolt suffers minor injuries in car crash
体坛英语资讯:Toyota sweeps front row in desert
体坛英语资讯:Chinese shooters suffer mini-Waterloo at 10m air rifle in Munich World Cup
体坛英语资讯:Ten high-tech swimsuits rejected in FINA
体坛英语资讯:Swine flu precautions for table tennis worlds
体坛英语资讯:Spanish soccer giant Real loses 3-1 at home to minor team Mallorca
体坛英语资讯:Six athletes from Beijing Olympics test positive for CERA
体坛英语资讯:Defending champion Jankovic ousted at Stuttgart tennis
体坛英语资讯:Burnley promoted to English Premier League
体坛英语资讯:Nadal defeats Verdasco to make Madrid Open semi
体坛英语资讯:World cant afford Chinas table tennis gift
体坛英语资讯:Top seeds romp in table tennis second round
体坛英语资讯:Zhu claims 4th consecutive title in Milan shooting World Cup
体坛英语资讯:Shakhtar stun Bremen to lift UEFA Cup
体坛英语资讯:Nadal, Federer, Djokovic make to last four of Rome Masters tennis
体坛英语资讯:Real Madrid narrows Barcelonas lead to two points
体坛英语资讯:Nadal sets new record, Safina unstoppable
小学口语对话之What is this?
体坛英语资讯:Djokovic to meet Nadal in Rome Masters final