(Source: http://www.gorod.lv)

The leaders of the Western countries agreed to extend sanctions against Russia for another six months - until July 2016 - on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Turkey. It is reported by Reuters with the reference to a high-ranking senior diplomatic source in the EU.

The meeting, according to the agency, was attended by the US President Barack Obama, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the Prime Ministers of Britain David Cameron and of Italy Matteo Renzi, as well as the French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius. The decision to extend the sanctions was made in order to continue to put pressure on Russia on the eve of local elections in Donbass.

“The elections in Ukraine are a difficult task. We have a chance to get what we want, if we play the card of sanctions. Financial sanctions should remain in force until the end” - the source said. At the same time Reuters notes that it was decided to extend the sanctions despite the calls for closer cooperation with the Russian President Vladimir Putin in the fight against the “Islamic State” group prohibited in Russia.

On November 18 The Wall Street Journal reported on the plans of the EU and the US to renew and extend sanctions against Russia. The measures to be prolonged include the restrictions on cooperation with the Russian defense and energy companies. Russia is affected by the sanctions of a number of countries – in particular, the US and the EU member states. The restrictive measures have been introduced due to the annexation of the Crimea to Russia in March 2014, and then - in connection with the conflict in the east of Ukraine, however, according to the numerous statements of Moscow, it does not participate in that conflict.