EU Foreign Council to decide on next steps vs Russia Mon

LUXEMBOURG, Oct 20 (PRIME) -- The E.U. Foreign Council will assess the implementation of a peace settlement plan in Ukraine and define the Union’s next moves about Russian sanctions at a meeting on Monday, E.U. foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said during an E.U. foreign ministers meeting.

Denmark Foreign Minister Martin Lidegaard said it is too soon to lift the sanctions and the E.U. must still pressure Russia as military clashes still occur in Ukraine, and Russia is still behaving unacceptably, he said.

Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said the E.U. may consider new sanctions, as there has been no improvement in the implementation of a peaceful settlement plan, and there have been no changes in the situation. If the crisis worsens, the E.U. will have to consider further pressure, he said.

Earlier on Monday, a European source told PRIME the E.U. authorities scheduled a review of anti-Moscow sanctions over the crisis in Ukraine to October 28, and the officials may decide to change restrictive measures against Russia depending on the situation in Ukraine.

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