The European Union intends to extend sanctions against Russia imposed over the situation in the South-East of Ukraine, in December, according to Reuters five European diplomats. At the moment, the restrictive measures apply until 15 March 2017. The decision to extend the sanctions must be supported by all 28 EU member States.
“The expansion should occur in December. In Ukraine, nothing has changed, so there is no reason for them not to renew,” said one of the interlocutors of the Agency.
As pointed out by Reuters, it is planned to extend sanctions before winning the United States presidential election, Donald trump will take office in January. The Agency suggests that, from the perspective of Brussels to extend sanctions will be more difficult, if trump succeeds in improving relations with Russia.
“After the inauguration of the trump in January if it will actually improve relations with Putin, the differences inside the EU will become stronger and extend sanctions against Russia will be difficult,” — said the diplomat in Brussels.
During his election campaign, trump said he wants “good relations” with Russia and President Vladimir Putin. At the same time, he did not specify what it intends to do to improve relations with Russia. In Europe believe that the United States might soften its stance on the Ukrainian crisis.
The first sanctions against Russia were introduced in 2014 because of the situation in Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea to Russia. The last time they had been extended for six months in September 2016. In the so-called black list of the EU are 151 people and 37 organizations. The defendants in the list of banned entry to the EU territory and their assets in the bloc are frozen.
