The second president of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma has spoken for continuation of international sanctions against Russia in order to settle the situation in eastern Ukraine.

"If the world can't put the squeeze on Russia… We need to hope the world won't stop at the steps being taken against Russia today. This is the only way to get something from Russia," he told journalists in Kyiv on Wednesday.

According to him, a great achievement of Minsk agreements is the signature of a Russian representative on the document. "It means Russia has taken the responsibility for the implementation of Minsk agreements," Kuchma noted.

According to him, the implementation of Minsk agreements by all the parties can settle the situation in eastern Ukraine.

"It's a framework document – if it was observed, we'd live in a different country," Kuchma said.