Germany's Steinmeier Favors Gradual Phasing-Out of Russia Sanctions

"Sanctions are not an end in themselves. They should rather give incentives for a change in behavior," Steinmeier told the RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland, a network of local newspapers, Reuters reported.

Steinmeier said he was in favor of lifting sanctions gradually if the Russian govement showed it was doing its part in implementing the Minsk peace plan for Ukraine, adding, "An all or nothing approach, even if it sounds good, doesn't work."

A first wave of Weste sanctions against Russia was imposed in July 2014, after Moscow was accused of downing a Malaysian jetliner over Ukrainian territory.

EU and US have since targeted Russia's banking sector and blocked Russian energy companies from access to services, goods and technology used in deep-water shale oil extraction.