EU Set To Extend Sanctions On Russia Until March 2016
 The European Union is set to maintain until March 15 sanctions targeted against almost 200 Russians firms, individuals, and Ukrainian separatists to maintain pressure on Moscow to carry out the Minsk cease-fire agreement, diplomats said. The decision is expected at a meeting of senior EU officials on September 2 and should be signed off by ministers in mid-September, the diplomats said. The asset freeze and travel bans are due to expire on September 15. The sanctions currently target 151 people, including senior Russian advisers, lawmakers, and Ukrainian rebel leaders. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his top ministers weren’t affected. One person on the list has died, the diplomats said, reducing the number of individuals to 150. The Russians targeted include deputy prime minister Dmitry Kozak, who the EU said was in charge of integrating Crimea into Russia after its March 2014 annexation, and Dmitry Rogozin, who publicly called for the seizing of the territory, according to the EU. It also includes Igor Sergun, head of Russia’s main intelligence directorate, and senior Kremlin aide Vladislav Surkov. Also on the list are 37 firms and other entities, including 13 which were confiscated by Moscow during Russia’s annexation of Crimea or which benefited from that move. There had been some discussion of extending the targeted sanctions only until the end of January. Earlier in the year, some EU officials said there could be pressure to reduce the size of the list since the situation in eastern Ukraine had calmed somewhat. However, a clear majority of member states is now behind the six-month extension, the diplomats said. The expected move is the latest sign that despite significant political differences within the bloc over the conflict in Ukraine, the EU’s 28 member states remain united around the need to keep economic pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin. |
