EU Extends Russia Sanctions

The EU renewed for one year sanctions against Russia that were developed in response to Russia's annexation of Crimea, the EU announced (here). The measures apply to persons and companies of the EU, and specifically cover the territories of Crimea and Sevastapol. The EU sanctions include bans on investment in Crimea, and on exports to Crimea in the transport, telecom and energy sectors. A bipartisan group of six senators in a letter called for European Council President Donald Tusk to continue EU sanctions on Russia until it “fully complies” with international commitments, citing alleged ceasefire violations and the ongoing “illegal occupation” of Crimea, among other things. Russian-separatist forces continue to block and engage in violence against monitors from the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE), who are tasked to witness the ceasefire, the senators said. Sens. Ben Cardin, D-Md., John McCain, R-Ariz., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Rob Portman, R-Ohio, Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Ron Johnson, R-Wis., signed the letter.