Ursula von der Leyen says EU ready to take unprecedented measures against Russia

The European Union is ready to scale up its sanctions and take "unprecedented measures" against Russia if it shows further aggression towards Ukraine, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

Von der Leyen, speaking in the European Parliament, said the EU had worked closely with the United States to draw up options going beyond existing sanctions targeting Russia's financial and energy sectors, dual-use goods and defense: "And of course we are ready to take additional, unprecedented measures with serious consequences for Russia."