Source: EU only to prolong, not to expand anti-Russian sanctions

BRUSSELS, Dec 11 (PRIME) -- The E.U. does not plan to expand economic sanctions against Russia when it prolongs them for six months, a source close to the E.U. government told PRIME late on Thursday.

A final decision to prolong economic sanctions against Moscow may be made at a December 15 meeting of foreign ministers, the source said.

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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