TALLINN. June 10 (Interfax) - Estonian Foreign Minister Keit Pentus-Rosimannus calls for stepping up Western sanctions against Russia and urges the U.S. to take long-term security measures in the region in light of the ongoing Ukraine crisis.
"Current developments in Eastern Ukraine unfortunately show that the ceasefire violations are becoming constant. We have to be ready to increase economic sanctions in the event of an escalation," the Estonian Foreign Ministry quoted Pentus-Rosimannus as saying at a meeting with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken.
The Estonian Foreign Ministry press service told Interfax in commenting on the meeting's outcomes that Pentus-Rosimannus and Blinken "agreed that sanctions imposed on Russia should be maintained until the Minsk agreements have been fulfilled and Ukraine has regained control over its eastern border."
Pentus-Rosimannus also said the allies should take long-term measures against security threats emerging in the region because of the situation in eastern Ukraine.
"Since the changes to the security situation due to Russia's aggressive behavior are long-term, the Allies' counter measures must also be of a permanent nature," Pentus-Rosimannus was quoted as saying.
The Estonian foreign minister also told U.S. diplomat "about the illegal detention of [Estonian Security Service officer] Eston Kohver by Russia which has now lasted nine months."