Britain's foreign minister called on EU leaders to maintain economic sanctions on Russia until the Minsk peace deal to stop fighting in Ukraine has been fully implemented.

"I hope we will have a clear political commitment to maintaining sanctions until Minsk has been delivered in its entirety," Philip Hammond told reporters as he arrived for a meeting with his EU peers on Monday, March 16, according to Reuters.

EU leaders hold a summit on Thursday and Friday.

Meanwhile, Austria's foreign minister said the Minsk agreement to end fighting in eastern Ukraine is the biggest chance to solve Ukraine crisis peacefully and European leaders should not declare it has failed.

"I think in spite of its laboriousness and delays, there have been slight improvements and I think that we have to be aware that Minsk is the only tool we have. Minsk is the biggest chance for a peaceful solution," Sebastian Kurz said.