This time, the European Union says it is responding to what it sees as Moscow's failure to live up to commitments it agreed last month in Geneva.

　　The international accord is aimed at ending the dispute in Ukraine.

　　EU spokesperson Maja Kocijancic.

　　"These are people who are responsible for actions against territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of Ukraine. The Council has just formally adopted this addition. So now on this list of people targeted with assets freeze and travel ban we have in total 48 names."

　　The decision comes after the United States slapped sanctions on seven Russian government officials and 17 companies linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

　　At the State Department, spokeswoman Jen Psaki says the U.S. still has a "tool box of steps" it can take against Russia.

　　"We've consistently felt that there are a range of officials with close ties to President Putin who have supported these illegal acts in Ukraine that we can target here."

　　In addition, the US is also adding new restrictions on high-tech materials used by Russia's defence industry that could help bolster Moscow's military.

　　In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin says the measures are aimed at stopping Russia from replacing its defence-related imports from Ukraine.

　　Such attempts, he says, will fail.

　　"The ideas raised by our Western partners to impose sanctions on some Russia industries - above all on the military industry - is aimed, first of all, to preclude this import replacement, and thus to continue our dependence, among others, on Ukrainian factories. It is an attempt with unfit means. We will have it done anyway. We will find an adequate replacement. We will survive and move forward, and our partners will fail."

　　China's Foreign Minister also issued statement on Monday, calling for dialogue among all parties concerned.

        美欧对俄罗斯实施新制裁　　

        Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang.

　　"China always opposes the use or threat of sanctions in international relations. We believe that sanctions will do no good to solve the problem, but may further escalate the tension. It is in no party's interests. We call on all sides to carry on talks and negotiations to find a proper solution to the dispute and push for a political resolution of the Ukrainian crisis."

　　Meantime, pro-Russian activists have clashed with protesters holding a pro-Ukraine rally in the eastern city of Donetsk.

　　About 1,000 people took part in the pro-Ukraine march.

　　Several protesters were taken to local hospitals.

　　In the city of Slovyansk, negotiators sent by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe have so far failed to win the freedom of seven military observers, detained by pro-Russian militias.

　　The self-proclaimed mayor of Slovyansk, Vyacheslav Ponomarev, says an exchange list will be made public later.

　　"I think we will be listened to. Among the people who have to be exchanged, we have prepared a list of five of our people, and most likely I will announce it tomorrow."

　　Meanwhile on Monday, the mayor of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-biggest city, was shot in the back. At hospital, he has been listed in serious condition.

　　Kharkiv is the only major eastern city where Ukrainian forces have taken back control from the armed pro-Russian protesters since authorities in Kiev launched their anti-terrorist operation in the region.

　　For CRI, I am Ding Lulu.（本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑）