German Foreign Minister Annalena Burbock. File photoBERLIN, May 1. German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock said that sanctions against Russia can only be lifted if troops are withdrawn from Ukrainian territory. «A ceasefire can only be the first step. We are clear: lifting sanctions are possible only if Russia withdraws its troops. Peace on the terms dictated by Russia will not bring security to Ukraine or to us in Europe. In the worst case, this will become an invitation to the next war — even closer to our borders,» she said. Minister in an interview with Bild. According to Burbock, there is no «way to the times before February 24.» Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine on February 24. President Vladimir Putin called its goal «the protection of people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide by the Kyiv regime for eight years.» For this, according to him, it is planned to carry out «demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine», to bring to justice all war criminals responsible for «bloody crimes against civilians» in Donbass. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Armed Forces strike only at military infrastructure and Ukrainian troops and , on March 25, completed the main tasks of the first stage — significantly reduced the combat potential of Ukraine. The main goal in the Russian military department was called the liberation of Donbass.
