EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell, who is in France, told reporters that he will hold an urgent meeting of the informal council of EU foreign ministers on the topic of EU sanctions in response to Russia's actions against Ukraine.

"Priority attention today is focused on what is happening at the moment on the Ukrainian-Russian border. Taking advantage of the fact that all or almost all EU foreign ministers are in Paris for a meeting of foreign ministers on cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, I have convened an emergency foreign affairs council that France is organizing here in Paris after the Indo-Pacific meeting," the EU diplomatic chief said.

Although the meeting will be informal, Borrell explained, ministers will decide on a "European response" to Russia. "Obviously, this response will take the form of sanctions, the content of which the ministers will discuss on the basis of my proposal," Borrel said, recalling that in the European Union the adoption of sanctions is the responsibility of the EU Council. "And I'm sure it will be adopted unanimously," Borrel said.

He noted that the relevant text was being prepared on Tuesday morning, and that the EU Council will decide on the sanctions in the afternoon. However, Borrell specifies that it does not mean that all decisions will be made on Tuesday. So far, only urgent decisions will be taken.

Recall that Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday night signed a decree recognizing the independence of the "Luhansk and Donetsk people's republics."