Douglas Alexander MP, Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary, responding to the measures announced at the emergency EU Council meeting today on the crisis in Ukraine, said:

“While limited steps have been announced, the EU must be ready in the days and weeks ahead to encourage Russia to change course by implementing a co-ordinated and graduated series of economic and diplomatic measures.

“This resolve is required to help bring about an urgent de-escalation, and ultimately a diplomatic resolution to the crisis in Ukraine.

“Now is not the time for the UK or our allies to take any economic or diplomatic options off the table.

"The priority for the international community now must be direct talks between Russia and Ukraine’s government to bring the current stand-off to an end and so de-escalate the crisis.”