(VOVworld) - The European Union will extend sanctions against Russian and Ukrainian individuals over the conflict in Ukraine for a further six months. Sanctions, including travel restrictions and asset freezes against 146 persons and 37 entities, will be renewed until September. New sanctions were also approved by EU interior ministers on Thursday and the full list of individuals targeted will be published on Saturday.

People look at the debris of a passenger minibus after it hit a mine as they queue at a checkpoint to cross the demarcation line between territory controlled by pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian territory. (Photo: AFP)

The relations between Russia and the West have become tenser since the conflict broke out in eastern Ukraine. EU’s sanctions against Russia and Ukraine resulted from Russia’s annexation of Crimea in March, 2014.