EU extends sanctions against Russia

The European Union, on September 10, decided to extend sanctions against Russia for a further six months for undermining or threatening Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence, according to the website of the European Council.

"Today, the Council decided to extend the sanctions targeting persons and entities that continue to undermine Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence for a further six months until March 15, 2021. The existing restrictive measures provide for both travel restrictions and the freezing of assets and will continue to apply to 175 persons and 44 entities. The Council adopted the decision by written procedure. The legal acts will be published in the Official Journal on September 11, 2020," the statement reads.

Restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine were first introduced on March 17, 2014.

Other EU measures in place in response to the crisis in Ukraine include economic sanctions targeting specific sectors of the Russian economy, currently in place until January 31, 2021, and restrictive measures in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol, limited to the territory of Crimea and Sevastopol and currently in place until June 23, 2021.

The list of sanctioned persons and entities are kept under constant review and subject to periodic renewals by the Council.