EU Set to Roll Over Sanctions on Russia, Officials Say
Source: The Wall Street Journal
Bloc attempting to pressure Moscow to fully implement Minsk cease-fire conditions
BRUSSELS—The European Union is, in the coming weeks, looking to roll over its broad economic and targeted sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine crisis until late January, according to a number of senior officials and diplomats.
The continuation of the sanctions are part of an effort to maximize the bloc’s leverage in pushing the Kremlin to fully implement its side of the Minsk cease-fire agreement, the officials say.
The decisions are likely to deepen tensions with the Kremlin, which had appeared to be hoping to split the EU over sanctions policy and was hoping the relative quiet in eastern Ukraine since the cease-fire accord was signed on Feb. 12 would encourage its friends in the bloc to at least lighten the measures.
Read more: http://www.wsj.com/articles/eu-set-to-roll-over-sanctions-on-russia-officials-say-1433346645
