EU extends sanctions over Ukraine crisis

Brussels: The European Union here on Monday extended the validity of sanctions by six months over the Ukraine crisis, the media reported.

"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. One deceased person was removed from the list," the EU's council of ministers on foreign affairs and international relations said in a statement.

It said the asset freeze and travel bans against 149 persons and 37 entities had been extended until March 15, 2016.

The targeted people included some Russian officials and members of the State Duma, people working at Crimea and some eastern Ukraine areas, while the entities involved some Russian companies and some entities in Crimea and eastern Ukraine area.