EU agrees to extend Russia economic sanctions for 6 months: sources
Italy has close ties with Russia and wanted EU at a summit in Brussels to discuss issue
BRUSSELS (AFP) - EU member states agreed Friday to roll over for another six months damaging economic sanctions against Russia for its involvement in the Ukraine crisis, EU sources said.
"COREPER agreed to the extension of sanctions against Russia," one of the sources told AFP, referring to a formal meeting of the 28 country ambassadors to the EU.
The source, who asked not to be named, said the procedure will close Monday and the formal announcement be made Tuesday, with the sanctions extended to end-July.
The decision was originally meant to be a formality.
But it ended up being delayed by two weeks after several countries, led by Italy, raised questions about the wisdom punishing Russia while also seeking its help in key international issues, including the Syrian conflict.
Italy has traditionally close ties with Russia and wanted EU leaders at a Thursday-Friday summit in Brussels to discuss the issue, but despite Prime Minister Matteo Renzi s efforts it was not put on agenda.
Earlier Friday, the European Commission announced another decision likely to cause further offence in Moscow, offering short-stay visa-free travel for Ukraine, Georgia and Kosovo, all embroiled in disputes with Russia.
Russia s own efforts to get visa-free travel to the EU fell foul of the Ukraine crisis, with Brussels suspending talks on the issue in March last year.
