France's President Francois Hollande, right, shakes hand with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, prior to a meeting at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, Tuesday, June 21, 2016. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) (The Associated Press)
BRUSSELS – European Union nations have agreed in principle to extend sanctions against Russia for six more months to keep pressure on Moscow to respect the peace agreement in Ukraine.
EU diplomats confirmed Tuesday that the 28-nation bloc's ambassadors had agreed to the prolongation.
The diplomats said that at least one country must first have the move endorsed by its parliament, so it cannot go ahead until that is done, probably by the end of next week.
Some nations want the measures discussed at a summit of EU leaders. The French Senate earlier this month urged the government to lift economic sanctions on Russia, while Germany and Italy have been lobbying for them to be lifted.
The sanctions target Russia's financial, energy and defense sectors as well as some dual-use goods.
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