ANKARA 

The EU Council extended sanctions Wednesday for another six months imposed on 1,800 Russian individuals and entities for "undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine." 

"The existing restrictive measures provide for travel restrictions for natural persons, the freezing of assets, and a ban on making funds or other economic resources available to the listed individuals and entities," it said in a statement, adding it was "in response to Russia's ongoing unjustified and unprovoked" war which began Feb. 24, 2022.

The sanctions will apply until 15 March.

"The EU will continue to provide strong financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people for as long as it takes," it said.