EU leaders stop short of immediate strengthening of sanctions on Russia

EU leaders went no further than declaring their readiness to step up sanctions against Russia as they took stock of the escalating turmoil in Ukraine.

In a draft statement discussed last night in Brussels, the leaders called on all parties to accept the outcome of the presidential election in Ukraine last Sunday, in which billionaire businessman Petro Poroshenko took power.

Their statement at an informal dinner summit came after a second successive day of fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatist rebels in the city of Donetek.

In spite of the increased violence, the leaders stopped well short of an immediate strengthening of sactions against Moscow.

“The heads of state or government noted that preparatory work by the Commission and the European External Action Service on possible targeted measures is under way and agreed to continue preparations for possible further steps on that basis should events so require,” the EU leaders said.

Divisions Pre-summit talks on the situation in Ukraine were marked by divisions between member states as Sweden pressed for a more forceful statement while Italy sought the removal of the implicit threat to impose more sanctions on Russia.

Irish diplomats are understood to be supporting efforts to include in the final statement a condemnation of Russia's annexation of Crimea. As he arrived in Brussels yesterday for talks with European socialist leaders, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore welcomed Mr Poroshenko's election.

“I think that is important that the people of Ukraine unite around his leadership now of the country, that the democratic mandate that he has is respected,” Mr Gilmore told reporters.

"From a European Union perspective I think it's important that financial and economic support is available to Ukraine to enable it to deal with the practical difficulties people have on the ground."

In their draft statement, prepared in anticipation of sign-off during the summit, EU leaders said they looked forward to working with Mr Poroshenko.

“The presidential election was characterised by high turnout and a clear resolve by the authorities to hold what was a genuine election largely in line with international commitments and that respected fundamental freedoms, despite the hostile security environment in two eastern regions of the country,” the leaders said.

"We expect the Russian Federation to co-operate with the newly elected legitimate president and to use its leverage on the armed separatists to de-escalate the situation in eastern Ukraine.

The leaders called for the disarmament of all illegal armed groups and “amnesty to those who have rendered their arms voluntarily and have not committed grave crimes”.