"19 December 2016 the Council has extended economic sanctions against certain sectors of Russia's economy until 31 July 2017", – reads the statement of the Council.

The Council recalls that, on 19 March 2015, the EU tied the restrictive measures against the Russian Federation to fully implement the Minsk agreements in Ukraine.

"Since the Minsk agreement was not fully implemented by 31 December 2015, the Council extended the sanctions until 31 July 2016, and then until 31 January 2017. Assessing the implementation of the Minsk agreements at the EU summit on 15 December, the heads of state and government paved the way for the extension of sanctions for another 6 months, until 31 July 2017", – said the Council, adding that this decision was formalized by written procedure.

Economic sanctions of EU against Russia were introduced on 1 August 2014, in September the same year, they were enlarged.

In the Kremlin consider it absurd to link sanctions with the implementation of the Minsk agreements, because Russia is not a party to the conflict in Ukraine.

In response to Western sanctions, Russia has restricted food imports from certain countries. A ban were meat, sausage, fish and seafood, vegetables, fruits, dairy products. In June 2015, Russia has extended the embargo for a year. At the end of June, bradenburg was extended again, this time until 31 December 2017.