EU agrees Russia sanctions to stay until Ukraine peace terms met

European Council President Donald Tusk addresses a joint news conference following a European Union leaders summit in Brussels, March 19, 2015. REUTERS/Eric Vidal

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union leaders agreed on Thursday that economic sanctions imposed on Russia will stay in place until a Ukraine peace deal is fully implemented, effectively extending them to the end of the year if need be.

The compromise reached at an EU summit in Brussels maintains EU unity on sanctions against Moscow over its role in the Ukraine conflict.