BRUSSELS, January 29 (Sputnik) — EU foreign ministers will not consider expanding economic measures targeting Russia when they meet Thursday but will propose adding more individuals to the sanctions blacklist, French Secretary of State for European Affairs Harlem Desir said.
"They [the sanctions] are working, they bring results, and they are very costly, including for Russia," Desir said ahead of the meeting in Brussels.
"Today's decision will involve the toughening and expanding of sanctions against separatists and those who support them, including in Russia," he added.
29 January 2015, 12:41 GMT
A Thursday extraordinary meeting of the EU foreign ministers will focus on the "deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine," which has seen several incidents of deadly shelling last week, the European Council said. According to the Council, EU foreign ministers "will assess the situation and consider any appropriate action."
The European Union, the United States and a number of other countries have imposed several rounds of sanctions against Russia in 2014, targeting the country's banking, energy and defense sectors, as well as certain individuals. The restrictions were imposed over Moscow's alleged involvement in the Ukrainian crisis. Russia has repeatedly denied those allegations.
