EU to Toughen Russia Sanctions over Ukraine
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - The European Union is set to adopt much tougher economic sanctions against Russia for its role in the Ukraine crisis, officials said.
After discussions on broadening the sanctions from the current mix of asset freezes and travel bans, the legal instruments required to give effect to the new punitive measures will be taken up on Tuesday, they said.
The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, "will swiftly table the necessary legislative proposals in all areas identified" by member states earlier this week, a statement said.
EU foreign ministers agreed on Tuesday that the Commission and the bloc's external affairs arm should finalise work on tougher measures targeting specific sectors of the Russian economy.
The 28-nation EU toughened its stance towards Moscow following last week's downing of a Malaysian airliner, killing 298 people, in an area of eastern Ukraine held by Russian-backed separatists.
In another development, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Friday that it had found a "mass grave" in the eastern Ukrainian town of Slovyansk.
HRW also claimed that both warring sides in eastern Ukraine are illegally attacking civilians with unguided rockets.
"Instead of denying it, I think it would be wise for the Ukrainian government to commit to immediately stop using this kind of rockets in populated areas," HRW researcher Ole Solvang told Al Jazeera.
For its part, Ukraine blamed the rebels for attacks on civilians, saying "terrorists" are trying to discredit government forces.
Along with the US, Kiev has also accused Russia of firing across the border into Ukraine and moving in heavy artillery.
