European Union Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker told Russia on Thursday that the "only way" the 28-nation bloc will lift its economic sanctions on Moscow is if the Kremlin fully implements a peace deal for Ukraine. 

"The next step is clear, full implementation of the agreement -- no more, no less. This is the only way to begin our conversation and the only way to lift the economic sanctions that have been imposed," Juncker said at Russia's main economic forum in Saint Petersburg.