Russia blocked implementation of Minsk agreements waiting for new US and EU leadership, - Iryna Herashchenko

The Kremlin expects that the new U.S. administration would be more loyal.

This was announced by First Vice Speaker of the Ukrainian parliament Iryna Herashchenko, Censor.NET reports citing her Facebook.

"Russia and puppet 'leaders of the republics' blocked the implementation of the Minsk agreements not only because Russia is not going to leave the Donbas... but also because the Kremlin is expecting that the new U.S. administration would be more loyal. The Kremlin also expects that 2017 will bring more loyal governments in a number of European countries,'' she wrote.

''That is why the process of the liberation of the hostages has been actually blocked since September,'' Herashchenko claims.

The official expressed regret that ''the world allows the Kremlin to keep Ukrainian hostages for more than two years and use them for bargaining."

According to her, "the solidary position of the EU countries, such as Germany, France, and Great Britain, is very important. The sanctions against Russia shouldn't be lifted until the full implementation of the Minsk agreements, which means the return of the control over the Ukrainian border."