Kerry says Russia sanctions could end if Putin takes right steps

LONDON (Reuters) – Russia has made constructive moves in recent days towards reducing tensions in Ukraine, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said and he raised the possibility that Washington could lift sanctions if Moscow keeps taking positive steps.

Speaking in London, Kerry said the United States and Europe could lift sanctions within days or weeks if President Vladimir Putin keeps taking steps to ease tensions and lives up to commitments under ceasefire accords to end the Ukraine conflict.

“These sanctions could be lifted in a matter of weeks or days, depending on the choices that President Putin takes,” Kerry told reporters.

“Their sole purpose here is to restore the international norm with respect to behaviour between nations,” to ensure respect for borders, sovereignty and rights, he said.

In Washington, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said President Barack Obama was expected to sign legislation this week authorizing new sanctions on Russia over its activities in Ukraine and providing weapons to the Kiev government.

Obama would have to decide whether to impose the new sanctions. He has said he does not want to take new steps that are not synchronized with European partners.

French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel held a four-way telephone call with Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Tuesday evening, Hollande’s office said.

The two Western leaders called for a rapid resumption of contacts under the September Minsk ceasefire agreement.