The EU Council on Thursday adopted a decision to extend economic sanctions against Russia, which had previously been agreed by leaders. Restrictive measures expired at the end of January 2018.

"The decision will be valid until 31 July 2018", — stated in the text of the publication.

It also notes that "the decision will enter into force on the day following publication in the Official journal of the European Union".

Initially, the EU imposed restrictive economic measures against Russia in the summer of 2014 on the background of the conflict in Ukraine and later expanded them. The leaders of the countries-EU members in March 2015 tied their action to the full implementation of the Minsk agreements, their extension for two years is preceded by a discussion at the EU summit the implementation of these agreements.

Russia has repeatedly stated that it is not a party to domestic conflict or subject of the Minsk agreements on the settlement. Moscow has also repeatedly stressed that to talk to her in the language of sanctions is counterproductive.

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