The United Kingdom will announce new sanctions on Russia as a result of its decision to recognize the independence of Donetsk and Lugansk and send military forces into Ukraine, said Barbara Woodward, permanent representative of the United Kingdom to the UN, writes CNN.

“There will be severe economic consequences to its actions”, - said Woodward at an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting in New York.

Woodward said Russia’s actions “will have severe and far-reaching consequences” to human life, to the sovereignty of Ukraine, and to international law.

“The council must be united in calling on Russia to de-escalate immediately, in condemning aggression against a sovereign nation and defending the territorial integrity of Ukraine”, - said Woodward. “Russia has brought us to the brink, we urge Russia to step back”.