World Bulletin / News Desk

The United States strongly backs Britain staying in the European Union as it gears up for an in-out referendum on its membership, US Secretary of State John Kerry told an audience in Germany on Saturday.

"Obviously, the United States has a profound interest in your success, as we do in a very strong UK staying in a strong EU," Kerry said.

He also said that sanctions against Russia will continue until it implements all aspects of the Ukraine peace agreement reached in Minsk last year.

"Russia has a simple choice: fully implement Minsk or continue to face economically damaging sanctions," he said at the Munich Security Conference in Germany.