All 28 of the EU’s heads of state have put out a joint statement backing further sanctions on Russia after violence in Ukraine’s eastern provinces worsened markedly in recent days.

The statement dispels concerns that the bloc would prove too disunited to agree on new sanctions on Moscow despite the “Minsk” peace plan falling into tatters.

The heads of state or government highlighted there was “evidence of continued and growing support given to the separatists by Russia, and said they had therefore asked the bloc’s foreign ministers to “assess the situation and to consider any appropriate action, in particular on further restrictive measures”, at their upcoming meeting on Thursday.

We express our concern about the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine. We condemn the killing of civilians during the indiscriminate shelling of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol on 24 January 2015. We 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.