The leaders of European Union's county members have said that new restrictive measures against Russia could be taken at any moment.
This follows from the conclusions of the European Council over the
situation in Ukraine adopted at the sitting in Brussels on Friday.
“The European Council notes that the European Commission, the EEAS
and the Member States have been undertaking preparatory work on targeted
measures, as it requested in March, so that further steps can be taken
without delay,” read the conclusions from the European Council.
In that respect, the European Council expects that by June 30 the
following steps will have been taken: agreement on a verification
mechanism, monitored by the OSCE, for the cease-fire and for the
effective control of the border; return to the Ukrainian authorities of
the three border checkpoints (Izvaryne, Dovzhansky, Chervonopartyzansk);
release of hostages including all of the OSCE observers; and launch of
substantial negotiations on the implementation of President Poroshenko’s
peace plan.
“The council will assess the situation and, should it be required,
adopt necessary decisions. The European Council underlines its
commitment to reconvene at any time for further significant restrictive
measures,” the document said.
