The announcement on Saturday means the sanctions regime will be extended by six months. The decision could be taken after member state Slovakia no longer opposed the measure. The extension of the EU sanctions must be adopted unanimously.
According to AFP, Slovakia wanted two named individuals removed from the list. Diplomatic sources said Slovakia did not get what it demanded.
The European Council said the extension of the sanctions, imposed in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, could be adopted the day before the previous sanctions regime was due to expire.
However, two names, which were not made public, have been removed from the list. Five people who have died were also removed.
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