BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — In March 2014, 96 percent of Crimean residents voted to secede from Ukraine and rejoin Russia. The Ukrainian government and Western countries have not recognized the legitimacy of the vote, imposing several rounds of sanctions on Russia over what they label a Crimean "annexation."
In September 2015, the European Union extended for six months individual sanctions aimed at counteracting what it deemed threats to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. The sanctions presuppose freezing of assets and an EU travel ban for 149 individuals and 37 entities, including Russian businessmen and officials, as well as representatives of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics.
"We expect the extension of sanctions for six months, at least, these are plans for today. But the final decision is still pending," the source told RIA Novosti.
