No lifting of Russia sanctions sans progress on Ukraine: France

PARIS, June 06 (AFP): France insisted Wednesday that the lifting of damaging sanctions imposed by the EU on Russia over its role in Ukraine crisis be conditioned on advances in the country's peace process.
The rise of nationalist and populist parties in the EU has bolstered Russia's campaign to have the measures - which were imposed over its annexation of Crimea and support for rebels in Ukraine's east - repealed.
On Tuesday, the incoming prime minister of Italy's populist new government said he wanted to restore traditionally close relations between Rome and Moscow.
He also pushed for a review of the EU sanctions.
But French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Paris opposed any quick rethink.
Moscow's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine after the 2014 ouster of a pro-Russian president in Kiev plunged relations between the EU and Russia into the deep freeze.