The European Union will extend anti-Russian sanctions for six months but France is going to initiate a discussion on the issue at the EU Summit that will take place on June 28-29, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said Monday.
"As economic sanctions will be extended for six months, there is a need for a discussion to understand that if there is significant progress, it will be possible to make a step forward. But in order to do that the conditions must be met, the Russians and the Ukrainians must do their part of work in implementing the Minsk agreements," the minister told journalists.
On June 28-29, the EU leaders are due to decide on further prolongation of sanctions at a summit in Brussels.
Since 2014, the European Union, the United States and their allies have imposed several rounds of sanctions against Russia over accusations of Kremlin's alleged interference in the Ukrainian conflict — a claim that Moscow has repeatedly denied. In response, Russia introduced food embargo in August 2014 on products originating from states that imposed the restrictive measure.
