EU decided to extend sanctions against Russia

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BRUSSELS, June 29 - RIA Novosti. The leaders of the European Union at the summit in Brussels agreed to extend sanctions against Russia for another six months. This was reported by a source in the structures of the EU.

The parties accepted this decision after a short discussion about Russia, Ukraine and the Minsk Agreements.

In the Council of Federation, they reacted to the EU decision. Thus, Senator Konstantin Kosachev noted that the EU does not have a common opinion on the issue of anti-Russian sanctions. In his opinion, this is more about the interests of Ukraine than Russia. Kiev is allowed to sabotage the implementation of the Minsk agreements in favor of the geopolitical ambitions of that part of the European Union that is opposed to Moscow, the senator believes.

Introduction of sanctions

Relations between Russia and the West deteriorated due to the situation in Ukraine and around the Crimea.

Moscow has repeatedly stated that it is not a party to the conflict in Ukraine and the subject of Minsk agreements. However, the EU and the US still introduced anti-Russian measures, and Moscow - response restrictions.

At the same time, in the recent time in the West, opinions are increasingly clear about the need to abolish restrictive measures.

So, this week, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte criticized anti-Russian sanctions. In his opinion, their extension should not be automatic. He also recalled that restrictive measures are a means, not a goal.