EU extends sanctions against Russia for another six months

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EU economic sanctions against Russia are to remain in place for another six months.

They had been due to end in July, but Ambassadors from all 28 member states voted in favour of extending them until late January 2017.

The decision still has to be formally approved by the EU Council.

The sanctions, which target Russia’s banks, energy companies and defence sector, were imposed after the annexation of Crimea two years ago and then more after Moscow’s support for rebels in East Ukraine.

The EU says it wants further time to assess whether Russia is sticking to the Minsk peace agreements aimed at ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine.