EU Committee Extends Sanctions Against Russian Individuals, Entities

The European Union's Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) has decided to extend its sanctions against Russian and Ukrainian individuals and legal entities it believes are responsible for undermining Ukraine's territorial integrity, a EU diplomatic source said Wednesday.

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — The current sanctions, which include asset freezes and travel bans targeting 151 individuals and 37 companies and entities, are due to expire on September 15.

Individual sanctions, as well as several rounds of economic restrictions, were introduced by the West over Moscow’s alleged involvement in Ukraine’s internal conflict. Kremlin has repeatedly denied the accusations as baseless.

"Coreper has decided to extend the sanctions for another six months. Now, the technical team will conduct technical and legal work, so that the Council can make a final decision by September 15," the diplomat told RIA Novosti on condition of anonymity.

The EU could extend sanctions against Russian and Ukrainian individuals and legal entities on September 14, a EU source familiar with the situation said Wednesday.

"We expect that the final decision will be made either through a written procedure, or as point A. If a decision is made to adopt it as point A, then, most likely, this will be done at a meeting of the General Affairs Council on September 14," the source told RIA Novosti.

He added that a ministerial level discussion of the issue was unlikely. "The political decision is made."