EU Set To Extend Sanctions Against Russia By Another Six Months
BRUSSELS -- A senior EU official has told RFE/RL that the European Union is set to officially extend economic sanctions against Russia by another six months when EU ambassadors meet on December 21.
The extension would keep sanctions in place against Russia’s financial, oil, and military sectors as well as against specific individuals until July 31, 2016.
A motion to extend the sanctions during a December 14 meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels was blocked last week when Italy called for debate at a higher political level.
It was thought that Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi could raise the issue when EU leaders meet later this week.
The sanctions were first imposed in July and September 2014 in response to the illegal annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula by the Kremlin and Moscow’s support for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Without an extension, the EU’s existing sanctions are due to expire on January 31, 2016.
EU leaders set to extend Russia sanctions at summit
Brussels, Dec 14, 2015 (AFP) -- EU leaders will debate sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine conflict at a summit this week and are expected to extend them for another six months, officials said on Monday.
Italy has called for a disussion when the leaders of the 28-nation bloc meet on Thursday and Friday, meaning that the sanctions rollover did not happen as planned at a meeting of EU ambassadors in Brussels last week.
The EU imposed wide-ranging economic sanctions targeting Russia's banking, oil and defence sectors after the July 2014 shooting down of a Malaysia Airlines jet, widely blamed on pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine.
"I understand this will be for the European Council later this week as it has always been when it comes to sanctions on Russia," EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini told reporters at a meeting of foreign ministers.
"I don't see major problems in any of the member states on the political decisions" on extending sanctions.
While the European Council -- which groups the EU's leaders -- always has to sign off on sanctions decisions, a preliminary decision is often taken at ambassadorial or ministerial level beforehand.
Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said he did "not forsee a long discussion" on sanctions at the summit.
Italy, one of Russia's principal trading partners in Europe, said last week it wants to keep communication channels with Moscow open despite the Ukrainian crisis.
There have long been divisions in the EU over the economic sanctions, which have resurfaced in recent months as Brussels and Washington try to get Russia on board to end the Syrian war.
It has also imposed travel bans and asset freezes on Russian and Ukrainian individuals held responsible for backing the pro-Moscow rebels, as well as sanctions targeting those involved in Moscow's annexation of Crimea.
Kerry heads to Moscow for tough Syria, Ukraine talks
PARIS (AP) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is heading to Russia for talks aimed at narrowing gaps with Russian leaders over a political transition to end Syria's civil war and restoring stability in restive eastern Ukraine.
After spending last week at climate talks outside the French capital, Kerry leaves Paris on Monday for Moscow where he will meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. Before departing, Kerry will attend a French-hosted foreign ministers meeting to compare notes on a conference of Syrian opposition figures held last week in Saudi Arabia.
Washington and Moscow are deeply divided over the political process they both agree is needed to end the war in Syria. They are also at odds over Ukraine, where Russia is supporting separatists in the east.