EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini speaking at a news conference after today's extraordinary EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting on Ukraine in Brussels:
"We have decided to extend the restive measures targeting persons and entities that were decided in March last year, we have decided today to extend to September of this year."
"In addition to that we have decided to have a proposal within one week of further names of individuals and entities to be added to this list. That decision will be taken at the next foreign affairs council [meeting] we will have on 9 February."
"The third element of our decision from our action is to start the preparatory work so the services, both the EEAS and the [EU] Commission starting the preparatory work on any other appropriate action that from our side can be taken in view of ensuring the implementation of the Minsk agreement."
"Of one thing I can be happy tonight, it is that we kept our unity, which is as we always said our strength and we have shown that the European Union is ready to take further measures and to prepare further measures for the weeks to come."
"I talked to the [Greek Foreign] Minister [Nikos Kotzias] already yesterday on the draft conclusions and today let me say that, [they are] sticking to their positions, but the attitude was extremely constructive and I would say especially dedicated to finding and keeping our unity of the European Union."
From Reuters:
The European Union would have to send a clear message if pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine staged a full-blown military offensive there, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Thursday after talks with EU counterparts.
"If there were large military offensives, for example with widespread assaults on [the port city of] Mariupol, a clear reaction would be needed," Steinmeier told reporters in Brussels.