Western leaders agreed to extend Russia sanctions by six months - diplomat

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a video conference with Russia's personnel engaged in Syria military operation, at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Russia November 20, 2015. REUTERS/Mikhail Klimentyev/Sputnik/Kremlin

(Reuters) - Western leaders who met on the margins of last week's Group of 20 summit in Turkey agreed to extend sanctions imposed on Russia for its intervention in Ukraine by six months until July of next year, a senior European diplomat told Reuters.

The decision was taken despite mounting calls to cooperate more closely with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the fight against Islamic State following the militant group's Nov. 13 attacks in Paris which killed 130 people.