Economic sanctions

The Council of the European Union is to discuss on Monday new sanctions against Russia over the deepening crisis in eastern and southern Ukraine.

The meeting will be conducted at an ambassadorial level.

A group of 10 to 15 Russian officials are expected to enter the current "black list".

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution opposing the South Stream gas pipeline and recommending a search for alternative sources of gas supplies for the EU.

In a resolution on Russian pressure over Ukraine adopted on Thursday, MEPs insisted on more sanctions against Russia and especially its energy companies.

Economic sanctions by Europe against Russia “would destroy Cyprus’s economy,” Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides (photo) said in a German newspaper interview on Wednesday.

Hungary opposed to sanctions against Russia

BUDAPEST -- Hungary opposes a new series of economic sanctions that the EU would impose on Russia because of its intervention in Ukraine, said Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Merkel hopes sanctions against Russia will be "avoided"

BERLIN -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel says the crisis over Ukraine should be solved by political means, without imposing economic sanctions on Russia.

Latvia's industry experiences the negative effects of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the country's Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma said.

Bulgaria will be among the countries wost affected by EU sanctions against Russia, according to Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin.

In a Friday interview for the morning broadcast of TV7, he insisted that the European Union and Russia had to make another serious attempt to return to the negotiating table.

The EU has imposed sanctions on another 12 individuals over Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, but failed to agree on economic sanctions. 

With this the total number of persons on the sanctions list reached 33. 

Meanwhile, the EU leaders warned that further economic sanctions can be imposed on Russia, if the situation in Ukraine deteriorates.