The European Union (EU) has failed to impose a new round of sanctions against Russia after the bloc's member states did not reach a unanimous agreement on the measures.According to diplomatic sources, European capitals were expected to give a formal approval on Monday to the embargoes, which include limiting access to financial markets by Russian oil companies such as Rosneft and Transneft plus the petroleum unit of gas giant Gazprom. However, the EU members failed toreach a consensus on the measures.
The delay comes as some of the EU's newer member states in Eastern Europe were uneasy about thetightening of the sanctions, and as a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine appeared to be holding.
After theapparent failure of the talks to produce the required unanimous support of all 28 nations, an EU diplomat said there will be an extraordinary meeting of the (member state) ambassadors on the sanctions at 6:00 p.m. (1600 GMT)," AFP reported.
The EU ambassadors were originally expected to formally approve the sanctions package Monday at 1300 GMT after instructions from their governments, but that deadline was put back to 1600 GMT, and then the new meeting was called.
Earlier in the day, the European Commission spokeswoman Pia Ahrenkilde-Hansen said the bans would be reversible depending on the situation in eastern Ukraine.
Brussels has so far imposed sanctions such as travel bans and asset freezes against several Russian, Crimean and other pro-Russia figures. The restrictions were imposed after a decision by Ukraines then autonomous region of Crimea to rejoin the Russian Federation in March.
Kiev and Western powers accuse Moscow of having a hand in the crisis in eastern Ukraine, but Russia denies the allegation.
Following negotiations in the Belarusian capital city of Minsk on September 5, Kiev and the pro-Russians inked a Russian-proposed ceasefire pact aimed at putting an end to heavy clashes in Ukraines eastern areas.
By Press TV
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