The European Union called on Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine or face further sanctions, following a meeting with EU leaders in Brussels Saturday.
Proposals for further sanctions are to be ready for review within a week, however no clear date was set to the ultimatum.
Asked about a deadline, the EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy said:
"It depends, further steps, on development of the situation on the ground. There is no precise criteria, but I can assure you that everybody is assured that we have to move quickly."
"There can be no military solution to this crisis, it is time for everyone to get to the business of peace making," Rompuy added.
Addressing the body yesterday, the Ukrainian president Petro Poroshonko said the situation was one of "full scale war" with Russia and was "very close to the point of no return".
Russia has denied its troops are involved in fighting with pro-separatist forces within Ukraine, despite mounting evidence to the contrary. This week NATO released satellite images, which it said proved over 1000 Russian troops were inside Ukraine.
Britain, France and Germany backed calls for new sanctions if Russia did not act.
"We have to show real resolve, real resilience in demonstrating to Russia that if she carries on in this way the relationship between Europe and Russia, Britain and Russia, America and Russia will be radically different. They cannot go on in this way," UK Prime Minister, David Cameron said.
The United States welcomed the EU's statements.
"We welcome the European Council's consensus today to show strong support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and to prepare further sanctions for consideration in coming days," the White House National Security spokesperson, Caitlin Hayden said.
The US and EU have already imposed sanctions banning food imports and defence equipment, as well as placing asset freezes and travel bans on key individuals close in Moscow.
Earlier this month the US broadened the scope of sanctions against Russia, placing more Russian companies at risk of being targetted.
See related articles:
US broadens scope of sanctions on Russia (14 Aug 2014)
Russia bans food imports from EU, US, Australia and Canada (07 Aug 2014)
Sweeping EU sanctions against Russia (31 Jul 2014)
EU widens sanctions on Russia, targets economy (29 Jul 2014)
EU to impose new sanctions on Russia (22 Jul 2014)
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