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pain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo y Marfil, second right, talks with Finland's Foreign Minister Erkki Sakari Tuomioja, left, French Secretary of State for European Affairs Harlem Desir, second left, and Romania's Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean during an EU foreign ministers meeting at the European Council building in Brussels. Yves Logghe
Brussels

EU foreign ministers to consider third tier of sanctions against Russia

The Foreign Affairs Council are meeting today where the Ukraine crisis is the main topic on the agenda.

FOREIGN MINISTERS FROM the European Union are meeting in Brussels this morning to discuss the ongoing destabilisation of Ukraine.

Pro-Russian leaders claimed that voters in eastern Ukraine have massively backed independence in a disputed poll that Kiev and the West dismissed as an illegal “farce”.

This morning Russia backed the result, with Moscow stating that the result should be implemented in a “civilised manner without violence,” reports Sky News.

In doorstep interviews with EU foreign ministers ahead of the roundtable discussions today, ministers said the Ukraine crisis would be the main topic of discussion today.

Speaking to reporters, William Hague the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom said the “so-called” referendum had “zero credibility in the eyes of the world” calling them illegal.

nn William Hague, UK Foreign Secretary speaking outside today's meeting in Brussels. tvnewsroom.consilium.europa.eu tvnewsroom.consilium.europa.eu

Hague said that in today’s discussions, the ministers will “continue and intensify our preparations on a third tier of sanctions if circumstances require it,” he said.

“They don’t meet a single standard of objectivity,” said Hague, speaking about the referendum results, adding that it was important that the elections in Ukraine go ahead on 25 May.

He added that the people of Ukraine should be able to make their own decisions on Ukraine.

Read:  Rebels claim victory in independence referendums in eastern Ukraine>

Read:  Pro-Russian rebel regions hold vote to split from Ukraine>

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