Baltic States – CIS, Estonia, EU – CIS, Russia, USA

"The sanctions that have been imposed on Russia in connection with the military activity in eastern Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea - they have been imposed for a specific reason and a review, lifting or easing of the sanctions can happen, in the view of Estonia and in accordance with the view generally accepted in Europe, based on how Russia fulfills its obligations under the Minsk treaties or how the territorial integrity of Ukraine is restored, speaking of Crimea," Mikser said at a press conference.

"These are the criteria. Rewarding Russia for whatever other steps in the form of easing or lifting of the sanctions would be an extremely negative step which Estonia definitely will not support," the minister said.

U.S. president-elect Donald Trump said in an interview to the Times and Bild on Monday that he is prepared to ease the sanctions on Russia if an agreement is reached with Russia on significant reductions in the numbers of nuclear arms, for instance.

"The United States definitely can implement its policies as a sovereign country. We would like to see the United States act on matters like this consulting very intensely with and coordinating its positions with the member states of the European Union, the European Union as a whole," Mikser said.

"Nor have I noticed during the hours that have passed since the publication of this interview any particular enthusiasm on the part of Russia to put on the table the nuclear file, so to speak, to earn easing of the sanctions as a reward. I believe that the new U.S. administration definitely can come up with initiatives having to do with nuclear disarmament, yet they shouldn't be tied together into a bundle with the issue of sanctions on Russia," the minister added.