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MOSCOW, June 17. /TASS/. Russia considers a principle of reciprocity in the sanctions policy but should wait for the European Union’s final decision to extend sanctions against Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday.
"Apparently, I can say nothing but when the decision appears, then we can comment," Peskov said commenting on a decision of the EU committee at the level of permanent representatives to extend economic restrictions against Russia.
Speaking about retaliatory sanctions, the Kremlin spokesman said that the "principle of reciprocity is in force but certain decisions should be waited for," underscoring that "there have been no decisions yet."
Earlier in the day, the EU Council at the level of permanent representatives agreed to extend economic sanctions against Russia for another six months. The issue of toughening the sanctions was not discussed. The formal decision could be made on June 22 at the European Union Council meeting, a European source in Brussels told TASS on Wednesday.
"The decision to extend the sanctions until the end of January, 2016 was approved on the level of COREPER (the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the European Union)," the source said, adding that "the European Union Council does not currently discuss toughening the sanctions regime [against Russia - TASS]."
"After reaching a compromise on the decision to extend the sanctions regime at the level of Foreign Ministers, the formal decision will probably be made at the meeting of the European Union Council for Foreign Affairs on June 22," the source said.