Foreign Ministry: Extension of EU sanctions against Russia signals support for Ukraine in Normandy and Minsk formats

"We consider this decision as another strong signal of EU's support for the efforts of the Ukrainian leadership within the Normandy format and the Trilateral Contact Group to restore Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty," reads the statement of the Foreign Ministry.

As Russia has clearly no intentions to follow the full implementation of all Minsk agreements, consolidated political pressure on Russia exerted by the EU in the form of restrictive measures (sanctions) is fundamentally important, the Ministry underscores.

As noted, sanctions should be strengthened if Russia continues its aggression against Ukraine.

As reported, economic and sectoral sanctions against the Russian Federation were first imposed by the European Union in 2014 on the basis of Decision of the Council of the European Union 2014/512 / CFSP (of 31 July 2014) and apply to certain sectors of the Russian economy, in particular: financial sphere – restrictions on operations and contracts with a number of banks; export of military equipment, technology and dual-use goods to Russia; restrictions on exports of equipment and technology to Russia in the energy sector relating to products and technology designed for deep-sea exploration and oil production, exploration of Arctic oil reserves and shale oil production projects.

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