Merkel announced: No new sanctions against Russia

German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated that the European Union does not intend to introduce new sanctions against Russia, reports the BH news agency Patria. 

As the situation in eastern Ukraine worsens daily, Merkel announced the possibility of expanding the list of pro-Russian Ukrainian officials against whom EU sanctions will be imposed. But "apart from that, no new economic sanctions are foreseen at this moment," she told reporters in Berlin.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini announced earlier today, after a meeting with her German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier, that a ministerial meeting will be held in Brussels on Monday to consider the potential imposition of new sanctions, but "above all, ways to support Ukraine in this difficult time".

"Sanctions are not the goal, but a means, and they are always on the table," Mogherini said in Berlin.

Five Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the last 24 hours in eastern Ukraine, bringing the number of fallen Ukrainian soldiers since the outbreak of the conflict in April to 1,052, the Ukrainian army announced today.

The situation in eastern Ukraine has seriously worsened after the elections held in the separatist regions in the east on November 2.

In recent days, increased movements of tanks and heavy artillery towards cities in the east have been observed, which is why the OSCE warned that it fears an intensification of the conflict in those areas.