UPDATE: Tusk says EU to prolong anti-Russian sanctions for 6 months

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BRUSSELS, Dec 16 (PRIME) -- The E.U. has prolonged sanctions against Russia for six months after their expiration at the end of January 2017, though some E.U. countries suggested a 1-year prolongation, President of the European Council Donald Tusk said on Friday.

“It was clear that we would prolong the sanctions for six months and some of our colleagues would prefer maybe 12 months, but it was clear from the start that we can maintain the current format – six months,” he said.

He also said that some members of the E.U. Council were more radical regarding the introduction of new sanctions against Russia due to its actions in Syria, but it was not discussed as a method to solve the conflict.

But German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that introduction of new sanctions cannot be ruled out. She also said that the E.U. discussed possible changes in the U.S. sanction policy toward Russia due to the election of a new president, but Europe will act on the basis of the current situation, she said.

The E.U. is unable to ease anti-Russian sanctions as there is not enough progress in implementation of the Minsk agreements, she said.

But French President Francois Hollande said the Ukraine should also stick to the Minsk agreements.

Steffen Seibert, an official representative of the German government, said that prolongation of the sanctions does not mean rejection of economic cooperation with Russia.

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