EU Foreign Ministers to Consider Further Anti-Russia Sanctions Thursday

MOSCOW, January 29 (Sputnik) — A special meeting of the foreign ministers of the member states of the EU will be held on January 29, to consider further sanctions against Russia.

The meeting will focus on the "deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine," which saw several incidents of deadly shelling last week, the European Council said.

"EU foreign ministers will assess the situation and consider any appropriate action, in particular on further sanctions — 'restrictive measures', aiming at a swift and comprehensive implementation of Minsk agreements," the Council said.

According to media reports, the EU foreign ministers plan to extend the anti-Russia sanctions, and will ask the European Commission to add more names to the restrictions list.

The EU, the United States and their allies have imposed several rounds of sanctions against Russia in 2014, targeting the country's banking, energy and defense sectors, as well as several individuals. The West cited Moscow's alleged involvement in the Ukrainian crisis as justification for the restrictions. Russia has continuously stated that it is not a part to the Ukrainian conflict.

Despite ceasefire agreements made between Kiev and independence supporters in Minsk last September, the situation in eastern Ukraine deteriorated in the first few weeks of 2015. Most recently, at least 30 people were killed on Saturday as Ukraine's southeastern port city of Mariupol came under shelling.