EU leader wants 'tough, responsible' Russia strategy

(BRUSSELS) - EU president Donald Tusk said leaders meeting at a summit in Brussels on Thursday must adopt a "tough and responsible" strategy toward Russia following its intervention in Ukraine.

Tusk -- the former Polish premier chairing his first meeting of EU leaders since taking over from Herman Van Rompuy as European Council chief on December 1 -- said he also wants to promote investment in Europe.

"We should send a strong signal on our readiness to further support Ukraine, also financially, as we have done politically today by making the existing sanctions on Crimea and Sebastopol more effective," he told reporters.

The EU agreed Thursday to ban all investment in Crimea and cruise ships from its ports as further punishment for Russia's annexation of the region from Ukraine in March.

Tusk, whose home country is wary of the Kremlin's moves on the EU's eastern borders amid a financial crisis in Moscow, said he would hold a special strategy discussion during dinner.

"The situation demands immediate reactions, but for sure we will not find... a long-term solution for Ukraine without an adequate and consistent -- both tough and responsible -- strategy toward Russia."

Tusk also urged the leaders to support European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker's huge 315-billion-euro ($380-billion) investment plan.

"Today we need more investment, more structural reforms and sound public financing across Europe," he said.

On his way into the summit, Tusk joked that despite his experience in attending summits during years as Polish prime minister, "I feel like a debutant with stage fright."