Media: The EU will extend sanctions against Russia for another six months
The European Union intends to extend sanctions against Russia for another six months, Bloomberg reported, with reference to EU officials.
According to six European officials, the EU intend to extend sanctions "because of the unsuccessful efforts to completely cease hostilities in the East of Ukraine."
Earlier, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini suggested that European sanctions against Russia be extended in July. She explained her opinion by highlighting that the Minsk Agreements have not been implemented.
She stressed, however, that the settlement of the conflict depends not only on Moscow but also on Kiev.
According to Mogherini, at the moment Russia is not a strategic partner for the EU, but a strategic country, meaning a state with which the European countries may engage in so-called "selective cooperation" in areas where they have common interests with Moscow, such as the case in Syria, Iran or Libya.
At the moment there are three EU packages of sanctions against Russia. One package, which includes sanctions against the Crimea, is set to expire on June 23. Another, which targets specific economic sectors, is due to expire on July 31st.