The European Union is likely to extend economic sanctions against Russia next week before leaders of the bloc meet for a summit, diplomats said, after unexpected opposition by Italy blocked the rollover earlier this week.
The EU targeted Russia’s energy, banking and defense sectors in July 2014, blaming Moscow for driving a separatist revolt in east Ukraine, where 9,100 people have been killed in fighting between Russian-backed rebels and Kyiv’s forces.
Italy’s last-minute demand Wednesday for a discussion on extending the sanctions, which expire at the end of January, meant that a six-month rollover was not rubber-stamped by member states’ envoys to …read more
Source: Voice of America
