BERLIN, December 14. /TASS/. German government does not expect any EU country to block the decision to extend sanctions against Russia at the summit scheduled for December 15, a source in the German government said on Wednesday.
"I believe that consensus will be reached," he said. According to the source, the restrictions will be extended for six months. "We expect sanctions to be prolonged for another six months," the source noted.
He also said that the European Union could adopt the relevant document right after the summit. "If the leaders make a decision than it will be possible to take technical steps for the extension of sanctions right after that," he added.
On Tuesday, French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated that Paris and Berlin were ready to prolong restrictions against Russia over the situation in Ukraine.
In 2014, the United States and the European Union imposed sanctions on Russia over the situation in Ukraine and Crimea’s reunification with Russia. Some of the Russian officials were barred from entering EU counties and the US, their assets were frozen. Besides that, trade, financial and military restrictions were also introduced. Sanctions have been repeatedly extended and expanded.