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EU Council to decide on extension of anti-Russia sanctions for 9 months on Jan 29 — media

New European Union sanctions against Russia could include further capital markets restrictions, making it harder for Russian companies to refinance themselves and may affect Russian sovereign bonds

BRUSSELS, January 28. /TASS/. The EU foreign ministers will make a decision on Thursday to extend for 9 months anti-Russia sanctions, which expire in March, Reuters news agency reported on Wednesday with reference to EU officials.

Earlier on Wednesday Brussels-based website EUobserver wrote that the ministers were going to decide on extension of anti-Russia sanctions, though it did not specify the timeline. "In view of the worsening situation, the [EU] Council agrees to extend the restrictive measures targeting persons and entities for threatening or undermining Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," EUobserver cited a draft communiqu·.

The EU foreign ministers will request the European Commission (EC) and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to present a proposal for decision within a week on additional listings for Russia, the document said.

They also requested to undertake "further preparatory work on further restrictive measures" in a threat of new economic sanctions.

"New European Union sanctions against Russia could include further capital markets restrictions, making it harder for Russian companies to refinance themselves and possibly affecting Russian sovereign bonds and access to advanced technology for the oil and gas sectors," EUobserver reported.