President Poroshenko thanks EU for extending anti-Russian sanctions

"Important news from Brussels: the leaders of the European Union have adopted a political decision to extend the economic sanctions against the aggressor state. I am grateful to all our friends in the EU for their unshakable unity and solidarity with Ukraine," the President of Ukraine wrote on Facebook.

In particular, Poroshenko thanked German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron "for providing an objective assessment of the situation in occupied Donbas and recognizing the Kremlin's clear responsibility for the flagrant non-compliance with the Minsk accords."

"The costs of aggression will further grow if Russia continues to undermine the peace process and neglect its obligations. I believe that by joint efforts we will manage to make the aggressor respect the international law and ensure the restoration of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine," President Poroshenko noted.

The European Union made a political decision to extend the economic restrictive measures against Russia for the next six months at a meeting of the European Council in Brussels, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

Pursuant to the procedure, this decision should be formalized by a legal act of the Council of the EU and will enter into force on August 1, 2018 for the next six months.

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