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EU urges Russia to take steps to establish peace in Ukraine

The statement says that Russia should provide practical assistance in stopping hostilities, support the Ukrainian president’s peace plan

BRUSSELS, August 31, 17:59 /ITAR-TASS/. The EU summit’s final statement on Saturday urged Russia to take concrete steps for the establishment of peace in Ukraine.

The statement says that Russia should provide practical assistance in stopping hostilities, support the Ukrainian president’s peace plan, stop destabilising the situation in the neighbouring country and fulfil its international commitments.

The document also says Russia should guarantee the [Ukrainian] border inviolability and exert pressure on the separatist militias in the east of Ukraine with a view to persuading them to stop hostilities.

The EU reiterated the full support to Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty within the internationally recognised borders, the document says.

The EU summit instructed the European Commission to present “within a week” concrete proposals on toughening sanctions against Russia, European Council President Herman van Rompuy said after the meeting. There were no specific criteria for the activation of additional EU sanctions, and everything will depend on the situation in Ukraine, he added.

The further steps regarding the EU sanctions will be taken based on the situation in Ukraine that is deteriorating with each day, Rompuy said.