EU extends Russia sanctions for six months

Brussels, March 14 (IANS/EFE) The European Union (EU) agreed on Friday to extend for a period of six months, until September 15, the sanctions imposed against 150 Russian officials and Ukrainian rebel leaders, and 37 organisations for their alleged role in destabilising Ukraine.

The sanctions include travel bans and asset freezes.

"This decision gives legal effect to a political decision taken at the Foreign Affairs Council on January 29 2015," the EU council explained in a statement.

Further details of the restrictive measures will be published on Saturday in the official EU journal.

The blacklist includes figures close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, such as Deputy Prime Minister Dimtry Rogozin, the commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet Aleksandr Viktorovich, and Crimea Prime Minister Sergey Axionov.

European leaders may discuss the possibility of tightening the restrictions on Russia at their two-day meeting starting on March 19 in the Belgian capital Brussels.

However, European sources told Efe that even the countries that maintain a tough stance towards Russia believe that this is not the time to impose more sanctions.

The same sources stressed that the EU was waiting for the implementation of the Minsk agreements to solve the Ukraine crisis, and the ceasefire agreed upon between Russia and Ukraine on February 12.

--IANS/EFE

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