The EU prolonged sanctions against Russia without expending them

Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Foreign Minister of Germany

At the meeting in Brussels EU Foreign Ministers decided to prolong the first package of sanctions against Russian officials and pro-Russian separatists.

The decision was taken in the wake of deterioration of the situation in southeastern Ukraine.

Today’s decisions are to be ratified at a summit of the heads of state and/or government of the EU scheduled for February 12.

“We demonstrated that the EU is ready to introduce new measures in the forthcoming weeks if the situation isn’t changed for the better”, - stated Federica Mogherini, the High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy.

Germany and its partners, however, exclude their own intervention in the conflict in Ukraine.

The day before the EU still feared that Greece might not support the position of the other countries.