The European Union Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) on Wednesday approved the proposed six-month extension of individual sanctions against 146 Russian and Ukrainian individuals and 37 companies which the EU considers to be responsible for the crisis in eastern Ukraine, an EU diplomat told Interfax in Brussels.

These restrictive measures must now be approved by the EU Council and the legal act will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Since the previous extended period expires on September 15, the Council will make a decision in the very near future, the source said, adding that no date has yet been set.

The decision will be made on a written procedure, without the matter being put to any of the Council sessions, he also said. No changes were proposed to the sanctions list, he said.

At issue is the EU Council resolution, initially approved March 17, 2014 and subsequently extended and amended. The new resolution will remain in effect until March 15, 2017.

Individual sanctions consist of freezing of the person's financial assets at banks in EU countries and banning travel to the European Union.