BRUSSELS, March 17. /ITAR-TASS/. The EU is ready to expand its sanctions against Russia depending on Russia’s actions regarding Crimea. UK’s Minister of Foreign Affairs William Hague stated this after the ministerial meeting of the European Union in Brussels on Monday.

He said that this list of 13 Russian officials and 8 representatives of Crimean leadership could be expanded depending on Russia’s actions towards Crimea. Hague stressed that the EU introduced sanctions simultaneously with the USA, which shows “a good coordination of actions”.

William Hague noted that sanctions were only a part of the West’s reaction to the situation in Ukraine. “Every diplomatic channel remains open to Russia,” he said, adding that the EU intends to provide aid to Ukraine to help it become a successful state.