The EU could extend its Russia sanctions through December:
The European Union is considering keeping its economic sanctions against Russia in place though December in hopes of bolstering implementation of a peace deal for eastern Ukraine.
EU sanctions targeting the Russian energy and financial services sectors were agreed in June and July 2014 and will be up for renewal one year after they entered into force.
The sanctions, imposed over Russia's annexation of Crimea and support for separatists fighting goverment forces in eastern Ukraine, will expire without a unanimous decision to extend them.
Several diplomats from EU member states, speaking on condition of anonymity, told RFE/RL that EU heads of state might decide to extend the measures through December when they meet for a summit in Brussels on March 19.
They said a major reason is to synchronize the sanctions with a peace deal brokered on February 12 in Minsk by the leaders of Germany and France, under which Ukraine is to regain control of its border with Russia in the separatist-held areas by the end of the year under certain conditions.
Some diplomats said key EU member Germany favors prolongation but has concerns it could prompt Russia to renege on implementation.
LATEST: NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says cease-fire in eastern Ukraine "must be respected."
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NATO leaders say Russia "still in Ukraine":
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says that "Russia is still in Ukraine" and urged Moscow to withdraw all its forces and to end its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Stoltenberg said in Brussels on March 11 that NATO "has seen and still sees a strong Russian presence and strong support for separatist forces in eastern Ukraine."
U.S. General Philip Breedlove, the supreme allied commander of NATO troops, said at the same press conference that the alliance has "seen some success" with the cease-fire but said it is "difficult to know" where heavy weapons withdrawn from the front line have been moved.
He added that the border between Russia and eastern Ukraine was wide open and it was hard to know how many Russian troops are in Ukraine.
More than 6,000 people have been killed in fighting between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian government forces since April.
A cease-fire agreement in force since February 15 has greatly reduced fighting and led to some heavy weapons being withdrawn by both sides.