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Upcoming EU summit to discuss extension of Russian sanctions: Tusk

Xinhua, December 16, 2015 Adjust font size:

Leaders from the European Union (EU) and its member states will discuss a proposal to extend sanctions against Russia for another six months, European Council President Donald Tusk said on Tuesday.

Tusk, who will chair the two-day summit in Brussels from Thursday, said in his invitation letter that he had asked the meeting preparatory bodies to put the issue on the agenda.

He said the leaders will discuss the proposal to roll over sanctions on Russia for another six months on the second day of the summit of EU heads of state and government.

The sanctions were first imposed in July and September 2014 in response to the Ukrainian crisis. Without an extension, the EU's existing sanctions are due to expire on Jan. 31, 2016.

"This will be the direct consequence of the March European Council conclusion, according to which the duration of the restrictive measures against the Russian Federation should be clearly linked to the complete implementation of the Minsk agreements," Tusk said in his letter.

The extension would keep sanctions in place until July 31, 2016 against Russia's financial, oil, and military sectors as well as against specific individuals.

However, EU's move was seen by some as a fresh response to the ongoing confrontation between Russia and Turkey. Tensions ran high between the two countries since last month's downing of a Russian fighter jet by Turkey.

Over the weekend, a Russian warship fired warning shots at a Turkish fishing boat in the Aegean Sea. Endit