US, major EU states urge 'new measures' against Russia: France
Russia - EU
(PARIS) - The leaders of the United States, Germany, France, Britain and Italy agreed Monday on the need to impose new sanctions on Russia over its presumed role in Ukraine's insurgency, the French presidency said.
President Barack Obama, Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Francois Hollande, Prime Minister David Cameron and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi "confirmed... their intention to adopt new measures against Russia," the French presidency said after the five leaders held telephone talks.
Eastern Ukraine has for weeks been the scene of fierce battles between pro-Kremlin separatists and the army, and clashes in the vast area where the Malaysia Airlines plane came down on July 17 have so far blocked attempts by Dutch and Australian police to access the crash site.
"Despite numerous calls made to President (Vladimir) Putin, they (the five leaders) regretted that Russia did not effectively pressure the separatists into negotiating or take concrete measures... to ensure control of the Russian-Ukraine border," the presidency said.