Zakharova: EU’s decision to prolong anti-Russian sanctions regrettable

The Minsk Accords have failed to be implemented to this day through Kiev’s fault, so the EU Council’s decision to prolong sanctions against Russia is regrettable, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

"There has been little progress in implementing the Minsk Accords due to Kiev’s reluctance to comply with its liabilities under these agreements," TASS cited her as saying.

"Russia’s retaliatory stop-list remains in effect, too, but this is no choice of ours," Zakharova added.

The EU’s decision to prolong the operation of the "black list" of Russian and Ukrainian citizens for six months was published today in the Official Journal of the European Union. It will take effect on March 15 and expire on September 15, 2017.