"We have no political difficulties, there is an agreement to expand sanctions against Crimea. Additional restrictions are expected on Monday, if preparations are completed as scheduled," said the diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Another diplomatic source said that sanctions would be approved before the EC meeting, which is to take place from December 18 to December 19 in Brussels.
"In any event, they [sanctions] will be approved before the European Council meeting," the source said, adding that further sanctions against Crimea, which will involve trade and investment restrictions, have to be thoroughly prepared, with technical details taken into consideration.
In July, the EU imposed investment restrictions in certain sectors of the Crimean economy, and banned all imports from the Crimean Peninsula without Ukraine's certification.
Crimea and the city of Sevastopol became part of the Russian Federation after a referendum in March, when over 96 percent of the peninsula's population voted in favor of secession from Ukraine and reunification with Russia.
