West extended sanctions against Russia for another six months

According to the agency Reuters, Western leaders on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Turkey agreed to extend sanctions against Russia for another six months - until July 2016.

According to the agency, US President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Ministers David Cameron and Italy Matteo Renzi, as well as French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius took part in the meeting. The decision to extend the sanctions was taken to continue to put pressure on Russia on the eve of local elections in the Donbass. “Elections in Ukraine is a difficult task. We have a chance to get what we want if we play the sanctions card. Financial sanctions should remain in force until the end, "- said in a statement.

At the same time, Reuters notes that it was decided to extend the sanctions, despite calls for closer cooperation with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the fight against the Islamic State.

November 18 The Wall Street Journal announced plans for the EU and the US to extend and expand sanctions against Russia. The measures relate to restrictions on cooperation with Russian defense and energy companies.

Recall, "Forum" wrote that in relation to Russia there are sanctions a number of countries, in particular the USA and EU states. They were introduced against the background of the annexation of the Crimea to Russia in March 2014 of the year, and then in connection with the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

One and a half hundred individuals (both Russians and Ukrainians), as well as companies, organizations and associations are in the EU blacklists.

There are two conditions for lifting sanctions from Russia: Moscow must actively cooperate with the West on the Syrian issue, as well as contribute to the implementation of Minsk agreements and conflict resolution in Ukraine. Told a German newspaper BILD German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. “The West has never had the interest to isolate Russia or permanently turn the G-8 into the G-7,” the Foreign Minister noted.

Previously, the Forum wrote that Western sanctions against Moscow are more a year and a half.

The decision on the future of sanctions against Russia, the leaders of the European Union should take in mid-December. In order for measures to remain in force, approval of all 28 EU states is required.