Ambassador: EU may prolong anti-Russian sanctions on Dec 17-18

MOSCOW, Dec 11 (PRIME) -- The European Council will decide whether to prolong anti-Russian sanctions or not on December 17-18, Italy’s Ambassador Cesare Maria Ragalini told PRIME on Friday.

On Wednesday, the E.U. decided to postpone consideration of Russian sanctions’ prolongation. European media reported that Italy proposed not prolonging them automatically.

“We believe that the issue of prolongation of sanctions is very complex and delicate. It must not be considered automatically, but be thoroughly considered and discussed, and it will be done so,” the Italian diplomat said.

EurActiv, an online media close to the European Commission, reported citing sources that a decision will be made before December 17-18, when an E.U. summit in Brussels is held.

The sources expected the E.U. to decide on Russian sanctions on the sidelines of a meeting of foreign ministers on December 14-15 or during a new meeting of ambassadors in Brussels.

A source close to the E.U. leadership said that the countries still have some disagreement on this issue, which is likely to be considered before Christmas.

On Thursday, a source close to the E.U. government said that the E.U. does not plan to expand economic sanctions against Russia when it prolongs them for six months.

Bloomberg quoted Adam Shubin, a U.S. deputy minister of the treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence, as saying that the U.S. expects the E.U. to prolong anti-Russian sanctions.

In 2014, relations between Russia and the West deteriorated to their worse since the Cold War due to a military conflict in Ukraine. The West introduced sanctions against some Russian individuals and firms and further against the energy and banking sectors. In response, Russia limited food imports from some countries, including the U.S., the E.U., Canada, Australia, and Norway.

In mid-2015, the mutual sanctions were prolonged for one year.

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