Luxembourg---EU foreign ministers formally agreed Monday to prolong to January 2016 damaging economic sanctions against Russia to ensure it fully implements Ukraine peace accords, officials said.
"EU has extended economic sanctions against Russia until 31 January 2016, with a view to complete implementation of (the) Minsk agreement," an EU spokeswoman said in a tweeted message.
The 28-nation bloc hit Russia's banking, oil and defence sectors with punitive measures after Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down in July last year over territory held by pro-Moscow rebels.
Up to that point, many EU members had been reluctant to adopt full-scale economic sanctions, agreeing only to travel bans and asset freezes against Russian and Ukrainian figures.
Those reservations remain but as the crisis has deepened, the EU has stuck with the tougher sanctions.
It has also warned, alongside the United States, that more could follow unless Moscow withdraws support for the rebels and use its influence with them to implement a ceasefire accord signed in the Belarus capital Minsk in February.
- US hails EU move -
Washington on Monday said it welcomed the decision to extend the sanctions.
"We and our EU and G-7 partners have made clear, sanctions are directly linked to the full implementation of the Minsk agreements," said State Department spokesman John Kirby.
"We hope all countries will condemn Russia's aggressive actions in Ukraine, and will join the international community in imposing sanctions."
In March, EU leaders agreed in principle to roll the sanctions over by linking them directly to the Minsk accord, which runs to December this year.
The ceasefire has largely held but Kiev and the rebels swap charges daily over breaches, and observers reported a sharp pick up in fighting earlier this month in a conflict which has claimed more than 6,500 lives and destroyed much of eastern Ukraine.
The foreign ministers of France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia are due to meet in Paris on Tuesday to review the situation.
AFP
