Obama extends sanctions on Russia by one year

U.S. President Barack Obama extended sanctions imposed on Russia in March 2014 over the Russian aggression in Ukraine for one more year.

Censor.NET reports citing Radio Liberty.

Because of the threat to Ukraine, Obama said, Russia's actions "pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States."

In 2014, the European Union, the United States and other countries imposed sanctions against Russia because of the occupation of Crimea and aggression in eastern Ukraine.

Talks on visa-free regime and a new basic agreement on cooperation with Russia were suspended. A number of Russian officials were banned to enter the EU and their assets were frozen. Commercial, financial and military restrictive measures were introduced. Sanction lists include 151 people and 37 entities. Sanctions were applied to 20 Russian financial, oil-producing and defense structures.