France would support new sanctions on Russia

France has said it will support new sanctions if a military escalation occurs amid intensifying tensions in Ukraine between pro-Russian militants and Kiev-controlled security forces.

Jean-Marie Le Guen. DR

"It's clear that we will have to declare ourselves in favour of new sanctions in case of a military escalation," said state secretary for parliamentary relations Jean-Marie Le Guen to French media on Sunday.

The junior minister’s comments came as unrest continued to spread in eastern Ukraine, leaving at least one Ukrainian officer and a pro-Russian activist dead in the eastern city of Slaviansk, about 150 km from the Russian border, on Sunday.

They were killed as gunfire broke out as Ukraine tried to oust militants who have seized several law enforcement buildings in the area.

Samantha Power, the US envoy to the United Nations, said attacks on police and security buildings in eastern Ukraine by pro-Russian gunmen were a “tell-tale sign of Moscow’s involvement” on Sunday, speaking to on the ABC television program “This Week”.

"It's professional, coordinated. Nothing grassroots about it," Power said, dismissing suggestions that grassroots militia groups led the attacks.

Power also said the US is prepared to step up sanctions against Russia if its assault on Ukraine continues.

She said the sanctions already imposed by the US have had an impact on Russia – the rouble has fallen to an all-time low, investors are leaving and the stock market has depreciated by 20 per cent.

If France slaps on more sanctions, Tatiana Kastoueva-Jean, a research fellow with the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI) in Paris says they will focus on the economy.

“These kind of sanctions are the most difficult to enforce, and it’s also very complicated to choose the right type of sanction,” said Kastoueva-Jean to RFI. “That means to be able to find the right balance which could deter Russia to stop violating international law and, at the same time, would not interfere with the economic relations between the EU and Russia.”