The European Union will maintain economic sanctions on Russia at least until the end of this year.  Any lifting of the sanctions is now contingent on the “complete implementation” of a ceasefire deal.  That means Ukraine must regain complete control of its eastern border with Russia.

“Our common intention is very clear – to maintain the sanctions until Minsk is fully implemented,” said European Council President Donald Tusk as EU leaders agreed to the plan at a summit in Brussels.  He was referring directly to the latest ceasefire deal agreed to in February in Belarus – which is largely holding, although Kiev and the Russian-backed rebels accuse each other of breeches.

US and European economic sanctions target major firms and political figures close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.  They are unable to get Western loans and their travel is restricted.  The idea is to put pressure on the Kremlin backers of the heavily armed pro-Russian rebels occupying parts of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions.