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EU leader call for stronger sanctions against Russia

EU leaders will also urge Russia to guarantee impenetrability of the border and issue a clear signal to militias to stop the fighting

© EPA/JULIEN WARNAND

BRUSSELS, August 30 /ITAR-TASS/. European leaders at their summit in Brussels on Saturday called for stronger sanctions against Russia but will determine them later, a West European source told ITAR-TASS.

The leaders, at the same time, stressed the need to continue diplomatic dialogue, he said.

The source quoted Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko as saying that the conflict in eastern Ukraine was escalating with Russia’s direct participation, and the EU decided to respond.

The EU leaders will not determine concrete forms of sanctions at the current summit but will instruct the European Commission to do so, the source said.

They will also ask Russia to take practical steps towards ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, support Poroshenko’s peace plan, stop destabilising the situation in Ukraine and fulfill its international obligations.

EU leaders will also urge Russia to guarantee impenetrability of the border and issue a clear signal to militias to stop the fighting.

The EU will support Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty within the internationally recognised borders.

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