The leading party of Germany advocated the tightening of sanctions against Russia

Bloc of German Parties of the CDU/CSS and the German Social Democratic Party, which constitute the coalition of the Chancellor Government Angel Merkel, announced their readiness to introduce economic sanctions against Russia if the Russian authorities did not change politics against Ukraine, RIA Novosti reports with reference to the publication of Finanzen.net

In a joint statement of parties, which was adopted following a conference ending on Tuesday morning, it is noted that the coalition calls for Russia to fulfill its obligations under the Geneva Agreement of April 17. In case of failure to fulfill obligations, the coalition threatens to adopt economic sanctions. The statement emphasizes that the door for negotiations is open. "However, we will be ready and determined to do this (introduce economic sanctions) if there is no other way," the statement said.

Also, the parties of the Great Coalition demanded the release of members of the military mission, who were detained by separatists in eastern Ukraine last week on suspicion of espionage. The parties turned to Russia with a request to influence the militants in order to achieve the liberation of the detainees.

The readiness to immediately impose sanctions against a number of sectors of the Russian economy was previously stated by US Secretary of State John Kerry.

In Geneva, on April 17, negotiations were held between Ukraine, Russia, the USA and the EU to resolve the crisis in the east of Ukraine. The parties agreed on measures to de -escalate the conflict - the disarmament of illegal formations, the liberation of illegally occupied buildings and the beginning of the national dialogue on constitutional reform. Last Saturday, the G7 countries were accused of Russia of non -compliance with the Geneva Agreement on de -escalation in Ukraine and threatened with new sanctions. Later, the Russian Foreign Ministry called these allegations unreasonable, and the Kyiv authorities accused that they still had no effort to start the inclusive constitutional process with the participation of all regions of Ukraine, which would contribute to the withdrawal of this country from the acute political crisis.

The United States on Monday, in connection with the situation in Ukraine, expanded the sanctions list, including seven Russians and 17 companies. Almost 50 Russian, Crimean and Ukrainian politicians and entrepreneurs were on the same images in the US sanctions list.