EU Foreign Ministers May Discuss New Anti-Russia Sanctions

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — The EU foreign ministers could discuss the expansion of anti-Russian economic sanctions, depending on the situation development of the Ukrainian crisis, a high-ranking source in the European Union said Wednesday.

"On Monday the sanction list [against individuals] was expanded at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting. What was not discussed is expansion of economic sanctions, restrictive measures approved in July and September. This was not discussed. It would be the next step," the source told journalists in the run-up to the EU summit meeting.

A number of Western nations have imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow over Russia's alleged role in the Ukrainian internal crisis, although Russian authorities have denied any involvement in the conflict. The sanctions target Russia's defense, energy and finance sectors, as well as a number of individuals.

In late January, EU foreign ministers decided to keep in force the existing sanctions against Russia until September 2015, but stopped short of imposing new sanctions.

On Monday, EU foreign ministers were expected to expand the anti-Russia sanctions list by adding another 19 individuals and nine organizations. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said the same day that EU foreign ministers postponed the implementation of a new round of sanctions until February 16.