PARIS, March 11. /ITAR-TASS/. EU sanctions against Russia might come into effect already this week, French Minister of Foreign Affairs Laurent Fabius stated on Tuesday.

“The referendum designed in the Kremlin is unlawful,” Fabius commented to France Inter public radio. “We cannot tolerate it, since it will lead to Ukraine’s destabilization. Thus, we will apply sanctions. They will possibly come into effect already this week”.

The minister specified that the case on hand is “the freezing of assets and canceling of visas issued for Russian and Ukrainian officials”.

Meanwhile, the head of French diplomatic service noted that the sanctions might be postponed if “Moscow shows aspiration for de-escalating the situation” in Ukraine.