Speaking after the Brussels summit, Mr Van Rompuy said (via the BBC):

  • The EU “stands ready to take further significant steps in light of the evolution of the situation on the ground.
  • “Everybody is fully aware that we have to act quickly.”
  • He did not specify the nature of further sanctions, but said the proposals would be ready within a week

Van Rompuy’s comments were echoed by other EU leaders:

  • German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the new sanctions would be imposed in Moscow did not change course, adding that there was no military solution to the conflict
  • French President Francois Hollande said: “Are we going to let the situation worsen, until it leads to war? Because that’s the risk today. There is no time to waste.”

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More weekend news re Ukraine:

Polish President Komorowski warns that Putin is trying to build a new Russian empire, choice is “a Cossack Europe or a democratic one”

EU may urgently prepare more options for Russia sanctions

Lithuania’s president Grybauskaite says Russia is at war with Ukraine and so effectively at war with Europe

Ukrainian Antonov-12 plane crashed on Saturday – 6 Ukrainians and one Russian on board

Finnish PM says Russia is trying to irritate Finland by its repeated violations of Finnish airspace

EU President Barroso says ready to impose strong Russia sanctions

and French President Hollande says EU will step up sanctions if no change by Russia