“In the world, above all in Ukraine, there are forces that believe in holding major international events, including EU summits, and aggravating the situation on the ground in order to appeal to the international community to retain sanctions, introduce more sanctions,” Meshkov told reporters.
“We are realists, we carefully analyze what our Western partners say,” he added.
Local independence supporters accused the Kiev forces of launching an offensive near the city of Marinka close to Donetsk, prompting EU Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic to call the renewed hostilities the biggest ceasefire violation since the truce was initiated.
The European leaders are expected to make a final decision on prolongation of anti-Russia sanctions at a summit in Brussels scheduled for June 25-26.
