Tuesday afternoon, the European Union decided on new sanctions against Russia following Moscow’s recognition of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine as independent states.

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, has announced this.

According to insiders, the EU is not yet initiating severe economic sanctions but would mainly like to target the people involved. They will receive an entry ban, and assets deposited in the EU will be frozen.

Trade with the rebel republics of Donetsk and Luhansk may also be further curtailed. But, again, the aim is to align sanctions closely with the United States and other allies.

The ambassadors of the EU countries will meet on Tuesday morning from 09:30 on the sanctions. Later in the day, additional foreign ministers’ meetings will probably follow.