EU set to continue sanctions on Russia

EU leaders are likely to keep economic sanctions on Russia in place until a Ukraine ceasefire deal is fully working, after German chancellor Angela Merkel said it would be wrong to ease pressure on Moscow prematurely.

EU governments had been divided on whether to act now to renew those sanctions, which expire in July.

Merkel’s comments suggest Germany would strongly encourage leaders meeting at a Brussels summit last night to commit Europe to maintaining sanctions until Russia meets the terms of the deal it struck last month with Kiev to lay down arms.