Europe extends sanctions against Russia

The European Council has against extended EU sanctions against Russia for six months, the Council said.

"The Council today renewed for a further 6 months its restrictive measures in view of the Russian Federation's continuing actions destabilizing the situation in Ukraine, until July 31, 2024," the statement reads.

The European Union started introducing economic sanctions against Russia on July 31, 2014. They are renewed automatically every six months since then.