As the EU agrees to extend sanctions on Russia by another six months, the Russian Defence Ministry has said its forces captured the east Ukrainian town of Velyka Novosilka in the Donetsk region, a key defensive hub for the Ukrainian army.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she expected the bloc to renew its sanctions on Russia on Monday after Hungary signalled it would stop holding up the move in return for assurances about energy security.

The EU will be able to renew its sectoral sanctions against Russia after Hungary abandoned its veto threat, which it had linked to energy concerns. #EuropeNews

The foreign ministers of the EU member states, who met today in Brussels in the format of the EU Council, agreed to extend sanctions against Russia over its aggression against Ukraine. — Ukrinform.

Hungary prolonged its blockage of the renewal of sanctions against Russia as Prime Minister Viktor Orban called on the European Union to pressure Ukraine to re-establish the transit of Russian gas to Europe.

Hungary's representatives have not yet agreed to a decision on the extension of EU sanctions against Russia. The issue will be considered at an EU Council meeting at foreign minister level on Monday,

BRUSSELS - The European Union renewed its wide-ranging sanctions on Russia on Monday for another six months after Hungary stopped holding up the move in return for assurances about energy security. Read more at straitstimes.

EU foreign ministers will consider the extension of sanctions against Russia. Hungary may block the decision if its demand is not met, states Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto on his Facebook page.

The European Union requires a unanimous vote to extend sanctions on Russia, a situation Hungary's Viktor Orban wants to use to pressure the bloc into forcing Ukraine to reopen a transit pipeline for Russian gas.