London to host meeting over sanctions on Russia

Britain will host an international meeting Tuesday to discuss possible sanctions against Russia and to urge it to withdraw its forces from the Crimea.

British Prime Minster David Cameron announced Monday that Britain was contemplating sanctions if Russia did not set up a contact group and start a dialogue with Ukraine, Xinhua reported.

The announcement came after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia was willing to continue talks with the Ukrainian authorities and had drawn up proposals for resolving the crisis within a legislative framework.

"These sanctions will include asset freezes and travel bans," Cameron told the British Parliament.

"We are working closely with our American, European and other international partners to prepare a list of names, and these sanctions will be the focus of a meeting here in London Tuesday with key international partners," Cameron said.

The measures of the sanctions could come in days, depending on whether Russia sets up the contact group and starts a dialogue with Ukraine, he said.

The threatening of sanctions is part of the British response to the crisis in Crimea.