EU Council renews Russia sanctions for six months

The EU Council ruled on Sept. 14 to extend for six
months sanctions imposed against individuals and companies responsible for
violating the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.
Travel restrictions and asset freezes apply to 38 companies, some of which have
merged since they were first imposed in March 2014, and 149 individuals, some
of whom have died since then, the resolution said. The EU Council acts as the
executive branch of the European Union.

Zenon Zawada: The West
remains firm on sanctions against Russia, despite the threat posed by the
election of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has abandoned his calls for
détente with Russia. Indeed the populist-nationalist wave of 2016 was halted by
the resounding victory of French President Emmanuel Macron.

We see the possibility of the first sanctions being
relaxed as early as next year as EU business grows frustrated with lost
opportunities with Russia. But we see a major turning point on sanctions being
the next parliamentary elections in Ukraine, which are scheduled for October
2019. If the Russian-oriented forces form the parliamentary opposition, or
possibly even a majority, many Europeans will take this as a signal to relax
sanctions on Russia.