EU extends Crimea sanctions, same seen for curbs on Russia

A view shows a Russian military base in Sevastopol, Crimea, July 5, 2016. To match Special Report RUSSIA-CRIMEA/ REUTERS/Stringer

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union on Monday extended for another year its trade sanctions on the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014, and diplomats said they expected the bloc to do the same for its sanctions on Moscow soon.

Moscow's annexation of Crimea is not internationally recognised. Along with Moscow's subsequent backing of an armed separatist rebellion in Ukraine's industrial east, it has prompted the bloc to impose sanctions on the peninsula and on Moscow, in sync with the United States.