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EU unlikely to extend Russia sanctions next week: official

13 March 2015 23:20 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. EU leaders are unlikely to decide at a summit next week to extend economic sanctions against Russia over the crisis in Ukraine, which expire in July, a European official said Friday, APA reports quoting AFP.

The European Union imposed tough sanctions targeting sectors including Russia's banks and its oil industry after the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over rebel-held eastern Ukraine in July 2014.

But the bloc's 28 member states are divided about extending them or imposing new sanctions, especially as many want to give a further chance to a shaky ceasefire in Ukraine that started last month.

"I don't think there is unanimity for the rollover of economic sanctions," the European official said on condition of anonymity ahead of the summit on Thursday and Friday next week.

The leaders have until July to make a final decision on extending the sanctions.

EU states signed off on Friday on the extension for six months until September of individual sanctions such as travel bans and asset freezes on 150 people and 37 entities.

The extension was agreed on in January.