EU extends Russian sanctions further 6 months
The European Union said on Monday that it has extended sanctions against Russia another six months over the crisis in Ukraine.
The decision was taken by COREPER, the Committee of Permanent Representatives in the EU, on Friday and rubber stamped by ministers on Monday.
A wish by the Italian representation to discuss the topic on the European Council level postponed the decision by a week, but all sides have arrived at a compromise now. Italy protested the continued work on the Russian-German project Nord Stream 2.
The decision to extend sanctions was taken as the European Union said conditions of the Minsk agreement have not been filled. According to reports by Reuters, the sanctions could be the last in such a format and more lenient measures could be preferred instead.
The new deadline for sanctions is July 31, 2016.
Editor: J.M. Laats