EU Likely to Prolong Anti-Russia Sanctions Until Year-End - Czech FM

The Western sanctions against Russia are likely to be prolonged until the end of 2015, Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek said Sunday.

PRAGUE (Sputnik) — According to the minister, the members of the European Council, who are due to consider the issue of anti-Russian sanctions' prolongation in late June, will have three possible options.

"Based on the current debates, I believe that the most likely scenario will be the prolongation of the anti-Russian sanctions until the end of 2015," Zaoralek said speaking on the Czech TV.

Russia's relationship with the European Union and the United States deteriorated amid the Ukrainian crisis, with the West introducing several rounds of sanctions against Moscow, accusing it of meddling in Ukraine's internal affairs. Moscow has repeatedly denied any involvement in the Ukrainian internal conflict.

In case all the sides to the conflict in eastern Ukraine adhere to the Minsk agreements, the EU member states may decide to gradually ease sanctions imposed on Russia, he said. If the European leaders qualify the situation in Ukraine as ambiguous they will continue to monitor the implementation of the Minsk accords.

The third option, according to the Czech minister, would be the EU leaders' decision to prolong anti-Russia sanctions if the hostilities in conflict-hit Ukraine’s east intensify.

The European leaders are expected to make a final decision on prolongation of anti-Russia sanctions at a summit in Brussels scheduled for June 25-26.