EU will extend sanctions against Russia, Ukraine’s Vice PM believes

The European Union has no reason to doubt the need for prolonging economic sanctions against Russia at the summit in June as the latest actions of the Russian Federation demonstrate the continued neglect of international law.

"In June, there will be the next review of sanctions [imposed by the EU] against the Russian Federation. In view of the behavior that Russia has demonstrated in recent months – continued neglect of international law, interference in Ukraine’s internal affairs, additional restrictive measures for the supply of petroleum products to Ukraine — we have no reason to believe that European countries will doubt the need for prolongation of sanctions. I believe we can expect that they will be fully extended for the next six months," Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze said during a briefing at the Ukrinform news agency on Wednesday.

She added that Ukraine also raised the issue of imposition of additional sanctions over Russia’s decision to provide expedited citizenship for the residents of occupied territories in Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

December 2018, the EU extended economic sanctions against Russia over non-fulfillment of the Minsk agreements.

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