European Union nations are considering new sanctions against Russia amid cautious optimism that a ceasefire will go into effect Friday in eastern Ukraine.
A new round of proposed sanctions has been handed to member states, EU spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said, reports GHN based on CNN.
"A decision on implementing them will only be taken in light of developments on the ground," she said. "If there is a ceasefire agreed in Minsk today, member states would look at how serious it was and decide whether to go forward."
Minsk, the capital of Belarus, is where pro-Russian rebels will hold ceasefire talks Friday with Ukrainian and Russian officials.
A ceasefire deal would be a major step in ending a nearly five-month conflict in eastern Ukraine, where Kiev accuses Moscow of sending troops to aid pro-Russian separatists -- a claim Moscow denies.
Rebel leaders in Ukraine's self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk republics say they will order a ceasefire Friday if Ukraine signs "a plan for a political settlement."
Ukraine is being represented at the talks by former President Leonid Kuchma.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who received the firm backing of NATO leaders Thursday at their summit in Wales, said on Twitter, "Ukraine's territorial integrity and independence are not up for negotiations. They remain as they are."
Russian President Vladimir Putin this week set out a seven-point peace plan that included a halt by both parties of "any offensive military operations" in Donetsk and Luhansk, international monitoring of the ceasefire, prisoner exchanges and the opening of a humanitarian corridor to allow aid to reach civilians.