Putin-Merkel-Hollande Talks on Ukraine May Influence Anti-Russia Sanctions

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — The outcome of the latest Ukrainian crisis talks including Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande may influence an EU decision to introduce new anti-Russia sanctions, a high-ranking source in the European Union told journalists Friday.

The EU foreign ministers are considering the introduction of new sanctions against 19 individuals and nine corporate Russian entities accused of involvement in the Ukrainian conflict on Monday, according to the source.

EU Foreign Affairs Council will consider the additional sanctions under the paragraph "A" on Monday, the source added. The norms under this paragraph are admitted without discussion, in accordance to EU rules.

Meanwhile, Merkel and Hollande are discussing a new plan for settling the Ukrainian crisis with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

On Thursday, Merkel and Hollande held talks on the Ukrainian conflict with that country's President Petro Poroshenko in Kiev.

The EU, the United States and their allies imposed several rounds of anti-Russia sanctions in 2014, targeting individuals, banking, energy and defense sectors. The Western countries accuse Moscow of interference in the Ukrainian internal conflict by supporting independence fighters in the country's southeast.

Moscow has repeatedly denied involvement in Ukraine's internal affairs and in response to the sanctions introduced a year-long ban on food imports from the Western countries.