EU extends trade and investment ban on Crimea

Russian and Crimean flags flutter in the wind during celebrations marking the first anniversary of Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, in central Simferopol March 16, 2015. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU governments extended for a year a ban on trade and investment with Crimea on Friday, meaning European help for Russian Black Sea oil and gas exploration and visits by European cruise ships will remain outlawed.

The measures were adopted following Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region in March last year and reinforce the EU's policy of not recognising the annexation.