OREANDA-NEWS. The European Union is discussing together with the United States and the United Kingdom the possibility of imposing new sanctions against Russia's Moscow, although no decisions on this matter will be made until the end of the day on Monday, December 13. This was stated by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrel. He arrived for a meeting with EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

According to Borrel, the European Union is «in the containment mode» of Moscow. «In any case, we intend to send a strong signal to Russia that any aggression against Ukraine will have a high price», the head of European diplomacy warned. He noted that London, Brussels and Washington are jointly and «in a coordinated manner» studying what restrictive measures will be discussed, as well as when and how they can be introduced.

Sources in diplomatic circles told Reuters that the discussion is focused on the gradual strengthening of punitive measures, starting with the next bans on entry into the EU and the freezing of assets of a number of members of Russia's political elite and ending with a ban on any financial and banking transactions with the Russian Federation.

Josep Borrel added that Russia's military buildup at the borders of Ukraine will be one of the main topics of the ministerial meeting in Brussels. The discussion will be a continuation of the dialogue at the G7 meeting, «where we declared our intention to firmly support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine», Borrel said.