MOSCOW –  Russia’s foreign minister says the extension of Western sanctions against Russia has been interpreted by Ukraine as a permission to drag its feet on fulfilling its end of a peace deal.

Lavrov said Tuesday that Ukraine is obliged to hold elections in the rebel east and give it broad rights under peace deal.

The February 2015 agreement is intended to end the conflict that has killed more than 9,000 since April 2014. Fighting has subsided, but political settlement still seems to be far off with Russia and Ukraine blaming each other for the failure to honor the agreement.

Ukraine demands full control of the border with Russia, which Western and Ukrainian officials say has served as a conduit for Russian troops and weapons backing the rebellion. Russia denied the claims.