EU agrees to extend sanctions against Russia

Dec. 14 (UPI) -- The European Union agreed Thursday to extend sanctions against Russia for its actions in Ukraine.

EU Council President Donald Tusk said the 28 EU leaders were in favor of extending the sanctions for another six months during their summit in Brussels.

"EU united on roll-over of economic sanctions on Russia," Tusk said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a report on the implementation of the Minsk agreements and expressed concern over ongoing hostilities in eastern Ukraine, Russia's TASS news agency reported.

The sanctions target Russia's financial, energy and defence sectors as well as dual-use goods, which can be used for both civilian or military purposes.

The EU first imposed the sanctions in 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine, and have agreed to extend them every six months since then.

Russia extended its own sanctions against the EU in June.