The European Union and US are to impose new economic sanctions against Russia following the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which has been blamed on Moscow-backed rebels in Ukraine.

The risk to passenger planes flying over war zones following the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 will be discussed at a special meeting of world aviation chiefs today.

Aviation security experts from across the European Union began a two-day meeting in Brussels today to consider an EU-wide ban on passengers carrying liquids onto planes as part of new anti-terror measures.