UPDATE2: Official: Prolongation of EU sanctions vs Russia on agenda

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BRUSSELS/BERLIN, Dec 14 (PRIME) -- Prolongation of the E.U. sanctions against Russia is on the agenda of a Thursday summit, a high-ranking European official told reporters on Wednesday.

“There is an issue of prolongation of Russian sanctions,” the official said.

An E.U. authority representative said on condition of anonymity that French and German leaders Francois Hollande and Angela Merkel will recommend rolling over the measures against Russia.

“I think that the members of the European Council will receive recommendation from Chancellor Merkel and President Hollande to prolong the economic sanctions introduced after the aggression of Russia in Ukraine. The progress in implementation of the Minsk agreements is still insignificant,” the official said.

A source in the German Federal Chancellery said that he expects a consensus between European states on anti-Russian sanctions prolongation.

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

A high-ranking European official said that the E.U. will possibly roll over the restrictions on Russia for six months. The measures can be taken as soon as in the next few days.

The source separately said that the E.U. is still not ready to threaten Russia with sanctions over the situation in Syria because there is no consensus among the participants.

“As you remember the discussion in October, when, I think, almost all countries participants were ready to sign draft conclusions (over Syria) made by (Chairman of the European Council Donald) Tusk, with references to Russia,” he said.

“But there is no consensus at that moment. As far as I know, the position of the country-participant which was against this has not changed still.”

In October, the E.U. refused to declare restrictions against Russia over Syria due to the position of Italy.

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