BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — The European Union may take a decision to extend the economic sanctions against Russia before Catholic Christmas, a source close to the EU leadership told reporters Friday.
"I assume that it will happen, probably before Christmas," the source said.
He added that the matter had not been included, as of yet, in the agenda of the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting to be held in Brussels on Monday, meaning the decision is likely to be taken later in December.
Relations between Russia and the European Union went downhill in 2014, when Brussels joined Washington in accusing Moscow of fueling the Ukrainian crisis, imposing several rounds of sanctions as a punitive measure.
The Russian authorities have refuted the allegations, warning that the Western sanctions are counterproductive. In response to the Western restrictive measures, Russia announced a one-year food embargo on products originating in states that imposed sanctions, in August 2014. The ban has since been extended for another year.
The European Union's economic sanctions against Russia are set to expire in January.
