EU prolongs sanctions against Russia by six months

The Council of the European Union has prolonged the economic sanctions targeting specific sectors of the Russian economy until 31 July 2017.

The corresponding decision was approved on Monday, December 19, an Ukrinform correspondent reports from Brussels.

"The Council prolonged the economic sanctions targeting specific sectors of the Russian economy until 31 July 2017.These measures were introduced on 31 July 2014 initially for one year in response to Russia's actions destabilizing the situation in Ukraine. They were reinforced in September 2014. They target the financial, energy and defence sectors, and the area of dual-use goods," the statement reads.

It is noted that the European Council agreed to link the duration of the sanctions to the complete implementation of the Minsk agreements, which was foreseen to take place by 31 December 2015.

ol