Sanctions apply to Russian officials and Ukraine's pro-Russian separatists. For now, new economic sanctions have been avoided. As diplomatic efforts continue in Minsk, fighting resumes on the ground.

Moscow (AsiaNews/Agencies) - "Greece did not save Russia," wrote many Russian newspapers after the EU decided to extend by six months travel bans and asset freezes imposed last year on Russian officials and pro-Russian Ukrainian separatists involved in the conflict in the former Soviet republic.

Taken immediately after Russia's annexation of Crime in March 2014, the measures were due to expire in March. However, the recently elected Greek government's explicit and strong opposition to further punitive measures against Moscow did not translate, as some in Russia might have hoped, in a veto that would have ended the sanctions.

For now, European foreign ministers have decided not to tighten the screws on Russia. But German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned that further escalation in eastern Ukraine, where fierce fighting flared up again between separatists and the regular army, might force Brussels to take "much more serious measures."

The United States also issued its own warning. "This is just a further sign that the actions of the last several days and weeks are absolutely unacceptable and that there will be new consequences put in place," said State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki.

Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Moscow issued a statement denying reports in Russian media that US Secretary of State John Kerry would be in the Russian capital on 4-5 February.

Although the conflict saw its worst escalation since September, diplomatic efforts continue.

In Moscow, Russian officials are looking optimistically to the work of the Contact Group. Representatives of Ukraine, Russia, OSCE and pro-Russian separatists are meeting today in Minsk to revive talks.

The first goal is to reach an immediate truce after a week that saw war rage again in eastern Ukraine.

A first ceasefire agreement had been signed in Minsk on 5 September, which included a series of political steps that were never undertaken. The last, unsuccessful round of negotiations was held on 24 December in the Belarusian capital.

The rebels want direct talks with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. Kiev instead wants to negotiate directly with the Kremlin, which in turn continues to claim that it is not a "party to the conflict," formally leaving everything in the hands of the leaders of the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk. (N/A.)

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