Finland Times

Tuomioja, who is leaving to attend the European Union (EU) foreign ministers' meeting in Luxembourg on Monday, considered the situation in eastern Ukraine extremely tense and serious.

"Let's see how the situation develops. If military intervention happens, economic sanctions are inevitable," the minister told Finnish national broadcaster YLE in a radio program early Monday.

Tuomioja hoped that the joint meeting of the EU, United States and Russia in Geneva on Thursday would find a solution to the situation.

However, in his opinion, the parties so far lack a genuine desire to find a negotiated solution.

The Finnish foreign minister remarks came after tensions in eastern Ukraine escalated on Sunday following the armed confrontation between Ukrainian security forces and pro-Moscow protesters.

On Sunday, UN Security Council held an emergency meeting requested by Russia, where Russian ambassador Vitally Churkin rebuffed the claims that Moscow was behind the violence, and said Kiev needs to stop the war with its own people.

Briefing at the meeting, Assistant UN Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernandez-Taranco called for "maximum restraint" on all sides and constructive dialogue between Kiev and Moscow to de-escalate the situation and address all differences.