Representatives of EU countries extended sanctions against Russia for another six months.
Sanctions against banking, energy and defense spheres of Russia have been extended until the end of July 2016. The decision came into force on December, 21.
According to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the lifting of sanctions against Russia is not possible until the Minsk agreement on the situation in the east of Ukraine is accomplished in full.
The EU sanctions against Russia impose restrictions on the access of some Russian banks to the Western financing; on equipment supply for Russian energy companies, as well as the sale of weapons and dual-use goods. The sanctions were introduced in summer 2014 for one year, and extended for another six months in June this year. Recently, the Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said that he did not exclude the revision of sanctions against Russia. He also stressed that this could happen in the coming months.
