The United States could lift Russia sanctions if the Minsk agreements are fully implemented, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement.

The White House praised the Minsk deal on Thursday, saying that it was a "potentially significant step."

"As we have long said, the United States is prepared to consider rolling back sanctions on Russia when the Minsk agreements of September 2014, and now this agreement, are fully implemented," said Kerry in a statement Thursday following marathon 16-hour talks between the 'Normandy 4' leaders in Minsk.

"That includes a full ceasefire, the withdrawal of all foreign troops and equipment from Ukraine, the full restoration of Ukrainian control of the international border, and the release of all hostages," Kerry said.

He added that the US "welcomes" the agreement struck by Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The White House also praised the Minsk agreement on Thursday, calling it a "potentially significant step" in the resolution of the Ukrainian conflict.