EU to Explore New Sanctions Against Crimea Later in Week: Diplomat

BRUSSELS, December 15 (Sputnik) – The European Union will not approve new sanctions on Monday against Crimea, but plans to discuss the issue later in the week, a European diplomat wishing to remain anonymous told RIA Novosti.

"Today, the delegates did not discuss Ukraine or Crimea and sanctions will not be approved today," the diplomat said.

He added that the European Union is still planning to bring the issue up later in the week, saying: "This is our goal but there are some technical moments."

The diplomat attributed the hold-up to internal delays in some EU member states.

According to RIA Novosti's diplomatic sources close to the matter, the 28-member state bloc intended to approve the sanctions ahead of the European Council's meeting, which is to take place from December 18 to 19 in Brussels, Belgium.

The source said the bloc was united in its decision to impose more sanctions on the former Ukrainian republic, which voted to join Russia in a referendum in March. But he added, there were "preparations" to be completed ahead of the vote.

The new sanctions may include trade and investment restrictions. A draft document leaked to the media Friday says the European Union is planning to ban EU companies from investing in Crimean enterprises and prohibits EU tech firms from selling oil and gas exploration technologies to the breakaway republic.

These moves follow the European Union's agreement in July to curb investment into certain sectors of the Crimean economy, and its ban of goods exported from the Crimean peninsula without Ukraine's permission.