The European U
nion has failed to act on its threat of launching sanctions against Russia over the crisis in Ukraine.
EU leaders threatened Russia last Friday that it had to take four specific steps in Ukraine in three days' time or face targeted sanctions.
But the Committee of Permanent Representatives in the European Union (COREPER) decided on Tuesday not to apply further sanctions, including asset freezes and visa bans, against Russian officials.
Germany's Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said any sanctions on Russia would affect Germany too.
But he added: "We do not want sanctions on Russia; however, we cannot accept the non-implementation of international law by Russia."
A total of 28 European Union leaders warned last week that Russia must agree a verification mechanism for the effective control of the border and a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine with pro-Russian rebels; return three border checkpoints at Izvarino, Dolzhanskiy and Krasnopartizansk to Ukraine; release all hostages and support the peace plan of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
- Ceasefire ended
The EU has so far imposed visa bans and asset freezes on more than 60 Russians over the Ukrainian crisis.
Meanwhile, Oleksandr Turchynov, the Ukrainian parliamentary chairman, earlier announced the expiration of a ceasefire declared in eastern Ukraine on 18 June by the Ukrainian administration.
The aim behind the truce was to give the separatists a chance to disarm and for a wider peace process to begin, granting more authority to regional governments, he said.
The separatists in the eastern part of Ukraine declared their intention to break away from Kiev in March.
They hope to repeat the scenario which occurred in Crimea, when Moscow annexed the peninsula after a controversial referendum in March.
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