EU ready to call summit next week to toughen Russia sanctions: France

(LUXEMBOURG) - The European Union is prepared if needed to call a Ukraine crisis summit next week to toughen sanctions against Russia, France's Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Monday.

Fabius said after speaking with his US, Russian and German counterparts that "there are actions of great organised violence" in eastern Ukraine.

"It appears obvious that Russia bears some responsibility for this violence," he said. "We must act."

"Should it be necessary, there can be a meeting next week of Europe's heads of state and government to agree new sanctions," he added after an EU foreign ministers meeting.