The European Union is keeping in place its package of economic sanctions against Russia for its involvement in the unrest going on in eastern Ukraine.  The EU says it has seen some “encouraging developments”, but decided the Ukraine-Russia ceasefire is not fully effective.

The EU sees “encouraging developments have been registered in the political process and in the implementation of some aspects of the Minsk Protocol”, according to spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic.  But says she there has a to a permanent ceasefire for the sanctions to end.  And so far, the current lull in fighting is marred by attacks, such as Sunday’s shelling of government troops by rebels.  Seven Ukrainians were killed, the heaviest loss of life of the cease-fire.

Moscow denies western allegations it is arming the rebels in eastern Ukraine with light and heavy weaponry and even additional troops.  The US and its allies leveled a series of economic penalties that target senior Russian officials, as well as Russia's oil industry, defense firms and banks.  The EU specifically froze the assets of some 140 Russian and Ukrainian individuals.