“I expressed my strong belief that the European Council needs to continue the current sanctions that are in place until we’ve seen full implementation of the Minsk Agreement… And my expectation is not only Italy, but all countries in Europe will recognize that it would be a wrong message to send to reduce sanctions pressure on Russia when their key implementation steps don’t happen until the end of the year. At minimum, we have to maintain the existing sanction levels until we’ve seen that they’ve carried out the steps that they’re required to under the agreement.”

– U.S. President Barack Obama, speaking at a joint press conference with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on April 17 at the White House.

“Until the Kremlin makes the decision that Russia should stop being an aggressor-state, which captures territories… and gets out of Donetsk and Luhansk and Crimea – until that moment, Russian terrorists will continue to try to escalate the situation and destabilize the overall situation in Ukraine. …What is my goal and the goal of the country? To achieve peace in the Donbas. We need to re-establish control over our territories…

“How should the conflict be resolved? Vladimir Putin should take the document known as the Minsk agreements, read it and fulfill everything written there. First, take back his gangsters. Second, withdraw the troops. Third – we are ready to have a discussion solely with legitimately elected authorities in Donetsk and Luhansk. Let’s have transparent and democratic elections. But democratic elections – this is not when Russian gangsters and soldiers are standing with Kalashnikovs at every polling station.”

– Ukraine Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, speaking on April 19 in an interview on the Ukrayina TV channel.