European Union Agrees to Continue Sanctions Against Russia

Representatives of the European Union agreed in their meeting in Brussels to continue sanctions against Russia for another six months. Moscow has stated that it will respond to this decision. Representatives from 28 EU countries reached an agreement on June 17, and thus, the confirmation of this matter at the foreign ministers' gathering on Monday in Luxembourg will only be ceremonial. Therefore, it seems that no formal action against Moscow will take place at the EU leaders' summit at the end of next week. According to reports from Russia, the Kremlin has said it will react to this move. The Russian news agency RIA quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying that Moscow will wait until the extension of sanctions is officially announced. Reuters reports that it seems Russia will also extend its own sanctions against EU members, including regarding food imports from them. Sanctions against energy, defense industries, and financial sectors in Russia began in July 2014. The EU and its Western allies, including the United States, initiated their sanctions against Moscow following the annexation of Crimea by Russia and the onset and continuation of tensions in eastern Ukraine. The West accuses Russia of supporting separatists in eastern Ukraine while also deeming the annexation of Crimea illegal. Moscow denies the allegations of supporting Ukrainian separatists. Reuters also reports that Igor Sechin, head of Russia's largest oil producer, Rosneft, which is considered an ally of President Vladimir Putin, has stated that the sanctions are detrimental to both sides. Sechin hopes that this situation will not continue for a very long time. Relations between Western countries and Russia have become strained, which many consider unprecedented since the end of the Cold War. On Tuesday, the Russian president, in remarks that have raised 'concerns' in the West, stated that his country will add more than 40 new intercontinental ballistic missiles to its arsenal this year. In this context, the United States is 'prepared' to deploy heavy weapons in Eastern Europe. Russia is adding 40 intercontinental ballistic missiles to its nuclear arsenal, raising concerns from NATO and the U.S. following reports of Russia's missile enhancement.