EU adds 15 names, 18 entities to Ukraine sanctions list: source

(BRUSSELS) - The European Union will add to its sanctions list 15 Ukrainian and Russian individuals and 18 entities over their role in the Ukraine crisis, an EU source said Thursday.

The source said the 18 entities will be made up of nine companies and nine institutions, such as the local authorities set up by pro-Russian rebels that have proclaimed independence in eastern Ukraine.

A statement after a meeting of the 28 member state ambassadors to the EU said they had agreed to add names and entities to the sanctions list but did not give figures.

The conclusions of the meeting will be published in the EU's official journal late Friday, the statement said.

The ambassadors, who meet regularly, were following through on a decision taken by EU leaders at a summit on Wednesday last week to extend the sanctions list.

There are currently 72 names hit with visa bans and asset freezes, imposed progressively after Russia showed no sign of meeting demands to reverse course and cut support for the rebels.

The EU ambassadors also discussed plans to move beyond the bloc's current measures, under pressure to do more after the alleged shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 last week by the rebels using a Russian-made missile.

EU foreign ministers had agreed on Tuesday to speed up sanctions and to examine tougher measures, including in the defence sector, as a result.

They had said the new list would accordingly include "entities and persons, including from the Russian Federation," for their role in stoking the crisis and aiding Russia's annexation of Crimea in March.

They also agreed to finalise work on tougher, sectoral measures and to "present proposals for taking action, including on access to capital markets, defence, dual-use goods and sensitive technologies, including in the energy sector."

- Discussion on preparatory work -

Thursday's meeting had an "exchange of views on the preparatory work" on this and also looked at additional measures to further restrict trade and investment with Crimea, annexed by Russia in March, it said.

The ambassadors will discuss these two issues when they meet again on Friday, it added.

EU sources said it was expected that they could be in a position to make a formal recommendation after further discussions on Tuesday, with the final decision up to the leaders of the 28 member states.

Up to now, tougher measures have proved very divisive because some EU member states, such as Germany and Italy, have extensive economic ties with Russia which they fear could be harmed by wider sanctions.

Other members, led by Britain and including former Soviet-era states such as Poland and Lithuania, want much tougher action.

Washington too has pressed for a harder line, announcing last week that it planned to curb Russian access to its financial markets.

The Financial Times reported earlier that Brussels would consider similar steps.