The EU has extended economic sanctions against Russia

The European Union has extended for six months the economic sanctions against Russia imposed because of the situation in Ukraine. This is stated in a statement on the website of the EU Council.

The sanctions will remain in force until January 31, 2022. It is reported that the decision was made based on the results of the assessment of the implementation of the Minsk agreements. “In light of the fact that these agreements are not fully implemented by Russia, the EU leaders have unanimously decided to extend the economic sanctions in force against the country,” the statement says.

The fact that the leaders of the EU countries decided to extend the anti-Russian economic sanctions for another six months became known at the end of June. It was reported that the parties recognized the lack of significant progress on the implementation of the Minsk agreements and pointed to “alarming events on the border of Ukraine and Russia”, as a result of which they unanimously supported the extension of restrictions against Russia.

The European Union imposed economic sanctions against Russia on July 31, 2014, accusing Moscow of destabilizing the situation in Ukraine. In March 2015, the EU Council decided to link the duration of the restrictions with Russia’s implementation of the Minsk agreements. Since then, the sanctions have been regularly extended for six months. Moscow, in turn, emphasizes that it is not a party to the conflict in eastern Ukraine.