Pushkov: EU’s anti-Russian sanctions may be extended

The time frame of the European Union’s anti-Russian sanctions, which are due to expire on July 31, may be extended, but not expanded, the head of the Russian State Duma Committee for Foreign Affairs, Alexei Pushkov, said.

"It feels today in the EU that supporters of extending the term of the sanctions against Russia are stronger than opponents of such a move. At the same time, the extension of the sanctions’ range is very unlikely," he believes. An expansion of sanctions, he said, is probable in case of a sharp deterioration of the situation in Ukraine’s east by the end of June, when the European parliamentarians would be making a decision on the issue. 

"By the way, there are forces in Kiev who want to make use of the moment, in other words to expand military actions, disrupt the ceasefire, blame Russia for everything and push the EU toward the expansion of sanctions. But such a game is unlikely to yield success for Kiev," he said in an interview with the Izvestia daily.