European Union leaders are unlikely to reach an agreement at their summit next week to prolong economic sanctions on Russia that expire in July, a senior EU official said Friday.
New sanctions on Russia are also off the table for now because EU governments want to give a chance to a fragile cease-fire in eastern Ukraine.
But some of the EU's 28 member states had pushed for an early decision on extending sanctions on Russia's financial, energy and defense sectors adopted in July last year over Russia's annexation of Crimea and support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.
While leaders will discuss sanctions at next week's summit, the senior EU official said a majority would probably want to hold over discussion of renewing the economic sanctions on Russia until July.
"I don't think there is unanimity at all for the rollover of sanctions, the sanctions that are due in July," the official, briefing reporters on condition of anonymity, said.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said Friday that new or extended EU sanctions against Russia would not help the cease-fire in eastern Ukraine.
Complete story at - EU Unlikely to Extend Russia Sanctions at Upcoming Summit | Business | The Moscow Times
New sanctions on Russia are also off the table for now because EU governments want to give a chance to a fragile cease-fire in eastern Ukraine.
But some of the EU's 28 member states had pushed for an early decision on extending sanctions on Russia's financial, energy and defense sectors adopted in July last year over Russia's annexation of Crimea and support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.
While leaders will discuss sanctions at next week's summit, the senior EU official said a majority would probably want to hold over discussion of renewing the economic sanctions on Russia until July.
"I don't think there is unanimity at all for the rollover of sanctions, the sanctions that are due in July," the official, briefing reporters on condition of anonymity, said.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said Friday that new or extended EU sanctions against Russia would not help the cease-fire in eastern Ukraine.
Complete story at - EU Unlikely to Extend Russia Sanctions at Upcoming Summit | Business | The Moscow Times
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