MOSCOW, November 15 (Sputnik) — The foreign affairs ministers of the European Union member states will convene a meeting on November 17 to discuss the situation in Ukraine, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said Saturday.
"Situation in Ukraine of utmost concern. EU foreign ministers to meet Monday to assess and discuss possible further steps," Van Rompuy, who is currently attending the G20 summit in Brisbane, Australia, wrote on his twitter account Saturday.
According to media reports, the "possible further steps" to be discussed during the Monday gathering may constitute new restrictive measures against Russia over its policy on Ukraine.
The internal political situation in Ukraine has led relations between Russia and the West to stagnation. The keystone of the stagnation was Crimea's reunification with Russia. The West denounced the reunification and accused Russia of redrawing borders.
In a bid to punish the move, the European Union, the United States and their allies have imposed several rounds of sanctions against Russia that have targeted the Russian banking, defense and energy sectors.
All the sanctions and denunciations came despite Moscow's assurances that Russia is no party to the conflict in Ukraine. Moscow also reminded that Crimea's reunification with Russia was the volition of people living in the territory.
