EU Set to Extend Anti-Rusian Sanctions Until March 2016

The European Union is likely to extend sanctions targeting some 190 officials and firms from Russia and self-proclaimed people's republics in eastern Ukraine until March 2016, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday citing diplomatic sources.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The current sanctions, which include asset freeze and travel bans targeting 151 individuals and 37 companies and entities, are due to expire on September 15.

According to the sources, the decision is expected to be made at a meeting of senior EU officials on Wednesday "to maintain pressure on Moscow to fully implement the Minsk ceasefire terms by the end of the year."

Several rounds of anti-Russia sanctions were introduced by the West over Moscow’s alleged involvement in Ukraine’s internal conflict. Moscow has repeatedly denied the claims stating that it stands for peaceful settlement of the conflict between Kiev and Donbass self-proclaimed people's republics.

As a retaliatory measure, in August 2014, the Russian government imposed a ban on the import of certain food products from countries that had introduced sanctions against Moscow. The ban has since been extended for another year.