AFP, BRUSSELS: EU member states formally approved on Monday a six-month extension of sanctions against Ukrainian and Russian figures accused of backing pro-Moscow rebels fighting to break away from Kiev. “The assessment of the situation did not justify a change in the regime of sanctions nor in the list of persons and entities under restrictive measures,” the EU’s Council of Ministers said in a statement. “The asset freeze and travel bans against 149 persons and 37 entities have been extended until 15 March 2016,” the statement said. Ambassadors from the 28 EU states had backed the extension earlier this month. In June, the EU prolonged until January 2016 a
separate series of very damaging economic sanctions against Russia, saying Moscow had failed to help implement a ceasefire it signed up to with Kiev and the rebels in February.