EU ministers to discuss further sanctions on Russia: Kiev
European Union foreign ministers are set to discuss more Russia sanctions which could see more officials in Moscow blacklisted over their alleged role in the crisis in east Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin announced on Thursday that a meeting of his EU counterparts will be convened later in the day with the aim of considering more “robust measures” against Russia.
"Ministers are ready to issue a forceful statement plus consider further robust measures," Klimkin said before the talks were to initiate at 1400 GMT.
Russia has already been hit by several rounds of Western sanctions over the crisis in Ukraine, although the restrictive measures have backfired on the economy of the European countries. However, the new sanctions are expected to hit individuals rather than affect the economic relations between Russia and European countries.
Meanwhile, AFP claimed it had obtained a draft statement of the meeting which recommends an extension of the visa bans and asset freezes imposed on some Russian and Ukrainian officials in March. The foreign ministers will also introduce more people to be added to the blacklist.
Foreign ministers are also expected to do some preparatory work for the adoption of more broad-spectrum sanctions, an issue which has already met huge criticism in EU circles. Some member states, including Greece, have voiced concern over the adoption of new sanctions as they may take their toll on weaker European economies.
The emergency meeting comes as the number of people killed in east Ukraine clashes has seen a sharp rise. Dozens were killed in new clashes near the port city of Mariupol.
On Wednesday, clashes in the strategic town of Debaltseve, which connects the two main militant strongholds of Lugansk and Donetsk, left three government soldiers killed.
International efforts for reaching a truce in east Ukraine have failed so far with Western governments accusing Russia of supporting the armed militancy against the Ukrainian government. Moscow denies the charges, saying Kiev must stop the suppression of the ethnic Russian population in the area.
MS/HMV/SS
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