EU passes further sanctions on Russia over Ukraine plane crash

The European Union on Friday extended sanctions against senior Russian officials over the wake of the shooting-down of the Air Malaysia flight last week, killing all 298 people on board.

The EU states agreed to add 15 individuals and 18 entities to the list of those subject to asset freezes announced earlier this week.

Among them are head of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB)NAlexander Bortnikov, and Sergei Beseda, head of the FSB department that oversees international operations and intelligence activity, and four members of Russia's Security Council.

The list, published in the EU's official journal, brings to 87 the total number of people subject to sanctions in relation to Russia's annexation of the Crimea.

Britain's ambassador to the United Nations Mark Lyall Grant said the UN Security Council is likely to endorse any agreement reached by the Netherlands and Australia with Ukraine about sending their police to the site of the crash in eastern Ukraine.

He said it is "quite likely that the Security Council will want to take note of that agreement, very possibly in a resolution".