CRI听力:EU Extends Sanctions on Russia over Ukraine

The European Union has agreed to expand its sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine conflict.

EU foreign ministers reached the agreement at an extraordinary session in Brussels which was called after dozens died in fighting in the east Ukrainian port of Mariupol.

EU's foreign affairs chief is Federica Mogherini.

"We have decided to extend the restrictive measures targeting persons and entities that were decided in March last year. We decided today to extend them until September of this year. In addition to that, we have decided to have a proposal within one week of further names of individuals and entities to be added to this list."

The sanctions were introduced after Russia's annexation of Crimea, hitting more than 100 Russian and Ukrainian figures.

The measures are due to expire in March.

In Moscow, head of the Kremlin administration Sergei Ivanov again accused the West of using the Ukrainian conflict as a tool of its geopolitical goals.