The European Union extended economic sanctions against Russia by six months until 31 July, the European Council announced on 19 December.

“Given that the Minsk agreements are not fully implemented, the European Council unanimously took the political decision to renew the economic sanctions against Russia,” the Council said in a statement.

The decision followed an update to the EU council by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, on the state of the Minsk agre...