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EU prolongs economic sanctions on Russia

BRUSSELS, June 28 (KUNA) -- The European Union (EU) announced Wednesday the prolongation of economic sanctions targeting specific sectors of the Russian economy until 31 January 2018.
This decision follows an update from French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to EU leaders last week on the implementation of the Minsk Agreements, noted an EU statement.
This paved the way for the renewal of sanctions for a further six months, it said The sanctions were originally introduced on 31 July 2014 for one year in response to Russia's actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine. They were strengthened in September 2014. They target the financial, energy and defence sectors, and the area of dual-use goods.
EU leaders in 2015 had agreed to link the duration of the sanctions on Russia to the complete implementation of the Minsk agreements, which was foreseen to take place by 31 December 2015.
Since this did not happen, and given that the Minsk agreements have still not been fully implemented, the EU has extended the sanctions. (end) nk.hs