The new measures go beyond the asset freezes and visa bans used until now, instead imposing restrictions on the finance, defence and energy sectors so as to increase the cost to Russia of its continued intervention and support of pro-Moscow rebels in Ukraine.
An unnamed diplomat called the sanctions "significant" as they are intended to curb access to financial markets for Russian banks, and will ban export of military hardware and energy technology to Russia, among other things.
The sanctions are expected to take effect already this coming Thursday.
