To extend again for six months

The Committee of Permanent Representatives of the EU countries (Coreper) at a meeting in Brussels agreed on the extension of economic restrictive measures against Russia for six months. This was reported by Interfax with reference to the European diplomatic source.

"Sanctions are extended for six months, their further consideration will be associated with the implementation of the Minsk agreements," the agency’s interlocutor said. He recalled that the legal act approved by Coreper must approve the EU Council. When this happens, it is still unknown, but the decision will be made before the Summit of the European Union on June 28-29.

The day before, in an interview with Euronews, the head of the European Commission Jean-Claude Junker also stated that the sanctions of the European Union against Russia will be extended . “At the moment, it is completely clear that in June we will extend the sanctions,” he said. “There is a direct relationship between the Minsk agreements, their implementation and sanctions.”

“I was in St. Petersburg last week, took part in the Economic Forum, and also met with President Putin. Both in my speech and at a meeting with the Russian leader, I very clearly expressed the idea that the Minsk agreements should be implemented. Simply, the more implemented points of the Minsk protocol, the less sanctions,” the junker said.

He added that the European Commission will monitor the situation. “Over the next six months, we will continue monitoring to understand if there is sufficient progress in the implementation of the Minsk agreements in order to remove part of the sanctions,” he added.

The sectoral sanctions of the European Union, adopted due to aggression of Russia in Ukraine, came into force on August 1, 2014 . They were introduced for a period of 1 year. Restrictive measures affected the banking and oil sector, the defense and industrial complex, dual-use products and technology. In particular, a ban on the supply of equipment for the oil industry, on technological cooperation with Russia in the development of Arctic shelf and shale deposits was introduced. The EU also introduced the embargo for weapons with Russia and the export of dual -purpose technologies. Since then, the sanctions have repeatedly extended.