Ukraine crisis: EU links Russia sanctions to truce deal

European Union leaders have agreed to keep sanctions on Russia in place until the end of this year at the earliest, the BBC reports.

The sanctions, imposed because of Russia's alleged military intervention in Ukraine, are now linked to "complete implementation" of a ceasefire deal.

Last month's deal envisages Ukraine regaining full control of its eastern border with Russia by the end of 2015.

The sanctions target major firms and political figures close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

They are unable to get Western loans and their travel is restricted.

The sanctions decision was agreed at an EU summit in Brussels.

"Our common intention is very clear - to maintain the sanctions until Minsk is fully implemented," European Council President Donald Tusk said at a news conference.

He was referring to the ceasefire deal agreed in February in Belarus' capital.

Thursday's move is designed to force Russia to put pressure on the heavily armed pro-Russian rebels occupying parts of Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

The EU sanctions were imposed last July and were due to expire after a year.

A formal decision to extend the measures must still be made, and is expected in the summer.

Both Ukraine's military and the rebels accuse each other of repeated shelling, but the fragile ceasefire agreed in Minsk, Belarus, is largely holding.

More than 6,000 people have died since the fighting in eastern Ukraine erupted last April, the UN estimates.

The Kiev government, Western leaders and Nato say there is clear evidence that Russia has helped the rebels with troops and heavy weapons. Russia denies that, insisting that any Russians on the rebel side are "volunteers".

The clashes began a month after Russia annexed Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula.