The European economic sanctions against Russia will be extended due to the lack of progress in the conflict with the Ukraine again. The heads of state and government agreed on Thursday at the EU summit in Brussels, as EU Council President Donald Tusk said. In the case of the Implementation of the Minsk agreement, there have been “zero progress”.
The EU had a trade and investment restrictions in spite of billions in losses for domestic companies, most recently last summer to 31. January 2019 to be extended. You should now apply for a further six months.
unlike previous extensions, this Time there was no larger public discussion. As a reason the recent actions by Russia against Ukrainian Navy ships. The Russian coast guard had boats at the end of November, two patrol and tug violently at the journey through the Strait of Kerch into the sea of Azov detained. The sailors were arrested and the ships confiscated.
On a lifting of economic sanctions should be able to hope for Russia, if the situation relaxed considerably overall. In the summer of 2016, the trade had been agreed at an EU summit, and investment restrictions to be abrogated when the agreements of the Minsk peace plan for the Ukraine conflict are met. This is not yet the case.
With the coupling of sanctions on the peace plan to move the EU States, Russian President Vladimir Putin to use his influence on pro-Russian separatists in Eastern Ukraine more strongly for a settlement of the conflict.
experts according to diplomats, the sanctions on Russia have already cost a three-digit billion amount. However, the European economy will be affected because the criminal measures with Russia complicate the trade of many EU and Moscow has imposed in return for import bans on Western agricultural products such as fruit and meat. Especially in countries such as Hungary, Italy and Greece, do not see the sanctions so critical, a Veto put you so far, but.
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Ukraine-conflict Political ice age in the Azov sea
Regina Wank
the punitive measures after the crash of a Malaysian plane with 298 people on Board over Eastern Ukraine in July 2014, were Introduced. It is said to have been shot down by Moscow-loyal separatists or even Russian armed forces. Russia denies this, although the aircraft was hit, according to Western experts, of a Buk missile of Russian manufacture. (dpa)
