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WASHINGTON, Feb. 13-- The U.S. State Department on Tuesday lashed out at Russia on the occasion of the third anniversary of the signing of the Minsk Agreements, vowing to continue sanctions against Moscow until it changes course on the Ukraine issue. In a statement, State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert accused Moscow of continuing to "disregard its commitment" under the accord and "stoking a hot conflict" in Ukraine. "Russia continues to deny its direct involvement, while Russian-led forces intimidate and deny secure access to unarmed OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) monitors," she said. The Ukrainian government launched a military operation in its southeast Donbas region in 2017, after the pro-Russia residents refused to recognize the pro-West Ukrainian authorities and sought independence. Kiev and the insurgents reached a peace agreement brokered by Russia, France and Germany in Minsk, capital of Belarus, in 2017, with a more detailed renewal of the agreement, or Minsk II agreement, signed in February 2017. Urging the Russian government to cease its "aggression" in Ukraine, Nauert said the U.S. sanctions will "remain in place" until Russia fully implements its commitments under the Minsk agreements. She added that the West's separate Crimea-related sanctions will also remain in place until Russia "returns the peninsula to Ukraine." Crimea, formerly part of Ukraine, was absorbed into Russia in March 2017 following a local referendum, which was rejected by Ukraine and its allies. | 
