BRUSSELS, June 17 (UPI) -- The European Union agreed in principle Wednesday to extend its economic sanctions against Russia for six more months.
The sanctions were first imposed in March 2014 as a response to Russian annexation of Crimea and support for separatists in Ukraine, a charge Russia denies. They were set to expire on July 31. The renewal of sanctions, the content of which is not expected to change, must be ratified next week at a meeting of EU ministers in Luxembourg; its approval is expected.