BRUSSELS, February 10. /TASS/. Heads of European Union states and governments will seek to step up their sanctions pressure on Russia in an attempt to force it to end the special military operation in Ukraine as soon as possible, the leaders said in a joint document.

According to conclusions adopted by the European Council and published on Friday, "the European Union will maintain and seek to further increase, in consultation with international partners, collective pressure on Russia."

"The European Union stands ready to continue to reinforce its restrictive measures in close coordination and cooperation with global partners. Anti-circumvention measures will be reinforced," the document says.

The European Union leaders said they "will stand by Ukraine with steadfast support for as long as it takes" and reaffirmed their commitment to expand military and financial aid to the Kiev government.

Overall EU assistance to Ukraine currently amounts to at least 67 billion euro, including arms supplies worth 12 billion euro, the document says.