The EU will look to tighten the enforcement of sanctions against Russia, while further ramping up pressure on the country and increasing support for Ukraine, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said yesterday.
"We are working on new proposals to tighten sanctions enforcement .. and we are moving ahead with more sanctions. Attempts to intimidate Europe will fail," Kallas said after an informal meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers in Ireland.
Kallas said there was "broad support" among ministers to move ahead with an EU visa entry ban for Russian ex-combatants and to impose tougher visa restrictions for Russian tourists.
Several ministers also raised again the idea to use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine, and discussions on that matter would continue, Kallas said.
The EU's top diplomat said member states had also pledged more support for Ukraine to help it withstand the ongoing attacks by Russia.
"We were pleased to hear today announcements by member states to provide air defence that we have been so long asking for," Kallas said. (Reuters)