EU slaps Russia with more sanctions

EU ambassadors agreed on a new round of restrictions on Russia, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy confirmed in a statement on Thursday. The diplomats from the 28-member bloc had confirmed the new measures earlier in the week, but were unable to agree on their implementation.

The latest sanctions, scheduled to take effect on Friday, would target state-owned banks, several defense companies and the energy sector, according to news agency DPA. Some 24 Russian nationals "involved in actions against Ukraine's territorial integrity" would also be hit with travel bans and asset freezes, the EU group said in a statement.

However, the European Council president indicated that the bans, which have already proven detrimental to Russia's economy, could be lifted soon.

At the end of the month, EU member states would review the situation in Ukraine and would have the opportunity to "amend, suspend or repeal the set of sanctions in force, in all or in part," van Rompuy said.

The EU remains particularly concerned about the dispute with Russia continuing to into the winter. Russia cut natural gas supplies to Ukraine in June, threatening Europe's energy supplies as well.

Russia has continuously denied involvement in the Ukrainian conflict. The EU and US, by contrast, have repeatedly pointed to evidence of Russian support for eastern Ukraine separatists and satellite photos showing Russian troops on the ground.

Moscow considering more bans

Russia responded to the threat of new restrictions on Thursday by warning it would inflict proportionate damages on the EU and the US.

"We have a number of non-agricultural goods where our partners -- particularly in Europe - depend on Russia more than Russia does on them," Russian President Vladimir Putin's aide, Andrei Belousov reportedly told state news agency RIA Novosti.

"This applies, for example, to (caps on) car imports, mainly used cars and on certain light industry goods, not all, but certain types of textiles," Belousov said.

Last month, Russia banned many food imports from the US, EU, Canada, Australia and Norway.

NATO confirms troop reduction

Amid a shaky ceasefire in Ukraine, NATO confirmed on Thursday that its intelligence showed only roughly 1,000 Russian soldiers remaining in the wartorn country.

However, it noted that Russia continued to maintain "a large and effective military presence along the border of Ukraine," of roughly 20,000 troops.

"Additionally, Russia continues to supply the separatists with sophisticated military equipment," a NATO officer told news agency DPA.

The Ukrainian government had said this week that up to 70 percent of Russia's soldiers stationed in Ukraine had returned into Russian territory. Despite the positive step, an official speaking to the AFP news agency warned on Thursday that: "They can return at any time."

kms/hc (AFP, Reuters, dpa)