Decision to Prolong Sanctions Against Russia Informally Taken - EU Lawmaker

The most significant sanctions will be immediately cancelled, after Russia and Ukraine implement the Minsk agreements and territorial integrity of Ukraine is provided, according to Elmar Brok, the chair of the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The European Parliament has made the informal decision to prolong the EU sanctions against Russia, the chair of the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee said Friday.

Speaking at the Russian State Duma, Elmar Brok said that the decision would be formally declared. According to Brok, the decision to prolong anti-Russian sanctions is connected with the failure to implement Minsk agreements.

According to the lawmaker, the most significant sanctions will be immediately cancelled, after Russia and Ukraine implement the Minsk agreements and territorial integrity of Ukraine is provided.

Relations between Russia and the European Union deteriorated in 2014 over Crimea's reunification with Russia and Moscow's alleged involvement into the escalation of the crisis in eastern Ukraine. The West imposed several rounds of sanctions on Russia's energy, banking and defense industries.

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 EU economic sanctions are due to expire on January 31, if the bloc does not extend the measures.