The EU imposed tougher sanctions on Russia's financial, energy and defense sectors (photo:rappler.com)
(VOVworld) - The European Union (EU) will extend sanctions on Russian and Ukrainian individuals and legal entities related to the conflict in eastern Ukraine and Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region last March. In a statement released Monday, EU ministers announced a six-month extension of sanctions against 149 Russian and Ukrainian individuals and 37 legal entities for backing separatists in eastern Ukraine. The announcement came one day before the sanctions expired.
Relations between Russia and Western countries have worsened since the political crisis in Ukraine last March. The EU imposed measures restricting entry to EU territory against 149 individuals and 37 entities and freezing their assets. The EU also imposed tougher sanctions on Russia's financial, energy and defense sectors. In retaliation, Russia has banned imports from EU countries.