European Council Likely to Extend Anti-Russian Sanctions Without Changes

The Council of Europe may decide to extend economic sanctions against Russia without additional voting, a source in the German chancellor's office said Wednesday.

BERLIN (Sputnik) — According to the source, French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will recommend the automatic extension of sanctions at a European Council meeting on Thursday.

"In case all EU members agree with these recommendations, the sanctions will be prolonged automatically after the meeting," the official told reporters in Berlin.

The current economic sanctions against Russia expire at the end of January 2017.

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