The EU’s foreign ministers have agreed to move towards placing more Ukrainian separatists under sanctions but not to increase sanctions on Russia, despite concern over escalating violence.
The decision comes a day after pro-Russian rebels in the east reportedly killed at least nine members of the Ukrainian security forces.
EU governments are deeply divided about taking action against Russia.
More than 4,000 people have died in the Ukraine conflict so far.
Six soldiers and three policemen were killed over a period of 24 hours in eastern Ukraine, according to government officials.
Separatists have been fighting government forces since April in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, in a war that has driven hundreds of thousands of people from their homes.
A ceasefire has been in place since the outlines of a deal were agreed in September, but it has been broken regularly, BBC informs.
