EU President Herman Van Rompuy (photo: twitter)
EU member states agreed Thursday to implement a new round of sanctions against Russia, diplomatic sources said, after sharp disagreements on how to factor-in a ceasefire in Ukraine.
The economic sanctions will come into effect on Friday, the sources said, with a statement by EU President Herman Van Rompuy expected later in the day to spell out how they should be introduced in light of the ceasefire which appears to be holding, the AFP news agency reports,
Russia said sanctions woud not change it's stance on Ukraine.
Russia has repeatedly denied arming pro Russia rebels or sending Russian troops in to the country. Earlier this week, the EU imposed fresh sanctions on Russia amid the crisis in the Ukraine.
Russian President aide Yuri Ushakov said the sanctions would not change Moscow's stance on the crisis, RIA Novosti reports.
“These sanctions will have no impact on our principle approach to the crisis in this neighboring state,” Ushakov said, commenting on the law allowing the Kiev government to impose sanctions on Russia.
Moscow earlier threatened Western countries with a ban on international flights over its territory if the sanctions take effect.
On September 10, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed into law a bill that enables Kiev to introduce sanctions against foreign countries, including Russia. The law authorizes introduction of more than 20 restrictive measures, including a ban on transit of energy resources.
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