EU Member States Back Prolonged Individual Sanctions Over Ukraine Crisis

Permanent representatives of EU member states agreed Wednesday to prolong individual sanctions against Russians and Ukrainians for another six months over their alleged actions against Ukraine's territorial integrity, according to an EU source.

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — The Committee of the Permanent Representatives of the Governments of the Member States to the European Union, or Coreper, voted to keep sanctions against 146 people and 37 entities in place until September 15, 2016.

"Coreper has made the decision," the source told RIA Novosti.

The motion needs to be approved by the Council of European Union, which is expected to formally endorse it on Thursday. The sanctions will be on the ‘A’ list of the Council’s justice and internal affairs agenda that do not require a debate.