The next meeting of European Union (EU) foreign ministers should consider appropriate actions, in particular further sanctions, against Russia over the Ukraine crisis, leaders of the bloc said in a statement released Tuesday.

In the statement, EU leaders said they "note evidence of continued and growing support given to the separatists by Russia, which underlines Russia's responsibility."

"We urge Russia to condemn the separatists' actions and to implement the Minsk agreements" in view of the worsening situation, said the statement.

The leaders said the further consideration will be aimed at "a swift and comprehensive implementation of Minsk agreements."

They also reiterated their concern about the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine, and condemned the killing of civilians during Saturday's indiscriminate shelling in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol.

According to the conclusions of an EU leaders' meeting in last December, the leaders said that "the EU will stay the course" and that they were "ready to take further steps if necessary."

"We will be seized of the situation at our next meeting," said the statement.

On Saturday morning, Mariupol came under shelling of rocket fire, which hit an open-air market and nearby homes and shops and caused heavy casualties.

The death toll of the rocket attack has risen to 30, while almost 100 people were wounded, according to local authorities. Endi

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