European Union authorities are planning another six months to extend the personal sanctions against citizens of Russia and Ukraine. Such a decision can be made on 14 September, reported on Tuesday, September 5, RIA Novosti reported, citing its sources.
Today in the sanctions list there are 153 individuals and 40 companies. Among them are Russian politicians and officials, businessmen and security forces, as well as representatives of the breakaway Donetsk and Lugansk national republics.
Member States of the European Union, USA and several other countries have introduced restrictive measures against Russia in 2014 and linking them with the annexation of Crimea, and then — with the conflict in the South-East of Ukraine. In response, Moscow imposed a ban on food exports from most countries, which supported anti-Russian sanctions.
The abolition of the restrictive measures, the West is linked to the implementation by Moscow of Minsk agreements — a package of measures to stabilize the situation in the South-East of Ukraine. The document, in particular, envisages a ceasefire, the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the contact line of the warring parties, and constitutional reform in the Republic.
Moscow has repeatedly stated that is not a party to the conflict in the Donbass, and the responsibility for the implementation of the agreements lies on Kiev. Also in Russia, emphasize that the procedure of the annexation of Crimea was fully consistent with international norms.