European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has said that he currently sees no reason to lift sanctions against Russia.

He said at a press conference in Brussels on Wednesday after the first meeting of the European Commission that his impression was that the current sanctions would remain unchanged.

Juncker did not rule out that the issue of new sanctions could be raised depending on the situation in the east of Ukraine.

Depending on the situation on the ground, the EU will see whether it is necessary to tighten or ease the sanctions, he said.

Juncker also confirmed that his first foreign visit would be to Kyiv and that he had already reached a preliminary agreement with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on this. He also said he did not yet know when such a visit could be paid.