The European Union introduced restrictive anti-Russian sanctions in March 2014 after Crimea became part of Russia earlier that year. The West also accused Moscow of meddling in the conflict in eastern Ukraine, imposing further political and economic sanctions on Russia. The Kremlin has repeatedly refuted the accusations and introduced counter measures as well as warning that the Western sanctions are counterproductive and undermine global stability.
The restrictive targeted sanctions imposed by Brussels include EU entry bans and bank account freezes for the black-listed individuals and enterprises. The list includes Russian officials and celebrities, as well as leaders of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LPR).
Aside from sanctions against individuals, the European Union introduced trade restrictions targeting key sectors of the Russian economy which are valid till January 31, 2017, as well as sanctions against Crimea which are in force till June 23, 2017.
SANCTIONS EXTENDED
"The Council prolonged by 6 months the application of EU restrictive measures targeting actions against Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence. These sanctions consist of an asset freeze and a travel ban against 146 persons and 37 entities. They have been extended until 15 March 2017," the European Council said in Thursday's statement.
The list of sanctioned individuals, which includes Crimean Prime Minister Sergey Aksenov, city of Sevastopol legislative assembly member Aleksei Chaly, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin and Federation Council Valentina Matvienko, has not been altered in content, a Brussels source told RIA Novosti earlier in the day.
RUSSIAN REACTION
Russian politicians responded to the extension by highlighting Brussels' dependency on Washington and the sanctions' negative impact on the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict.
The lawmaker added that the political mood in Europe may change as elections in a number of EU countries approach, providing an opportunity for voters' dissatisfaction with anti-Russian sanctions to be voiced at the ballot box.
Continued sanctions only play into the hands of those seeking to upset the Minsk accords on Ukrainian settlement, the Russian Federation Council’s Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman Konstantin Kosachev said.
The EU decision was routine, he added, stressing that it will yield no results at all except for prolonging the row between Europe and Russia.
UKRAINIAN REACTION
Poroshenko welcomed the decision, thanking the European Union and denouncing alleged Russian aggression.
"I welcome the decision of the Council of the European Union to extend sanctions against aggressor. The EU unity is unwavering. Thank you for unfailing support and solidarity with Ukraine," Poroshenko said on his official Twitter account.
YANUKOVYCH
The court said that the European Council had based its decision solely on claims of embezzlement by the Ukrainian Prosecutor General which failed to provide any detailed evidence on the matter.
Later, Ukrainian authorities submitted additional information on the investigation into the former president's alleged embezzlement activities, which were ruled to be sufficient to introduce sanctions by that point, according to the court.
Yanukovych, who was toppled in February 2014 following a coup in Kiev, welcomed the ruling and called on the European Union to lift sanctions against him and introduce sanctions against the current Ukrainian authorities.
"After the verdict of the court, the Council of the European Union should admit its mistakes and lift these sanctions. And if the Court of the European Union is really pursuing the aim to support the rule of law in Ukraine, it will impose sanctions on high-ranking criminals in incumbent Ukrainian authorities. The EU sanctions would work well against them and it would become possible to return a big amount of stolen money and there would be no need in IMF [International Monetary Fund] credits," Yanukovych told RIA Novosti.
The former president said that introducing EU sanctions deprived him of an opportunity to participate in political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.
