The heads of state or governments of the EU member states have decided to extend economic sanctions related to the banking, financial and energy sectors of Russia for another six months.

Axar.az reports citing Belsat that it was the Speaker of the President of the European Council Barend Leyts who posted the information about the prolongation of the sanctions on Twitter. “Prolongation of Russia sanctions is adopted by #EUCO,” said Leyts.

At the meeting in Brussels, the EU leaders discussed the issue of sanctions against Russia after the Normandy Four summit held on December 9 in Paris. They decided to extend it to support Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

In 2014, the EU imposed economic sanctions on Russia aimed at specific sectors of the economy. In March 2015, the sanctions were linked to the implementation of the Minsk Accords and were regularly extended for six months if Russia violated them.