You're reading: Poroshenko speaks for new EU sanctions against Russia, if situation in eastern Ukraine does not stabilize

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko hopes that the EU will make an immediate decision on sectoral sanctions against Russia, if the situation in eastern Ukraine does not stabilize.

He spoke of that during a telephone conversation with French President Francois Hollande, the presidential press service reports.

“The president of Ukraine voiced hope that if the unlawful armed formations refuse to stop fire in the territory of Ukraine but continue actions aimed at destabilizing the situation, including illegal border crossing from the Russian side, deliveries of armaments, military hardware etc, the EU decision on the introduction of sectoral sanctions against the Russian Federation, including the termination of military-technical cooperation, should be shared and immediate,” the report says.

Poroshenko stressed that he is set on signing the Ukraine-EU association agreement in the nearest future and has given instructions to prepare his visit to Brussels on June 27.

Hollande expressed condolences on the death of the Ukrainian military.

“Petro Poroshenko said that it is a tragic moment for him and for the entire Ukrainian people. The head of state thanked the president of France for the sincere condolences expressed on behalf of the French people to the people of Ukraine and for the active involvement of Francois Hollande in enforcing the peace plan of the Ukrainian president,” the report says.

The conversation took place at Hollande’s initiative.