European Union (EU) foreign ministers were today set to consider adopting a tougher stance on the Ukraine crisis amid increasing calls to beef up economic sanctions against Russia.

The Ukrainian military said yesterday that more Russian soldiers had crossed the border into eastern Ukraine, entering the small town of Amvrosiyivka in five armoured infantry carriers and a truck.

Nine troops were killed in overnight fighting in the streets of a town neighbouring the rebel stronghold of Donetsk, a Ukrainian official said.