The European Union imposed sanctions on seven ministers recently appointed to the Syrian government, blaming them for playing a role in the continued crackdown on civilians in the war-ravaged country.

Germany and France urged on Monday their EU partners on Monday to consider imposing sanctions on Russians suspected of poisoning Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny with a nerve agent, Reuters reported. Berlin and Paris say they have not had a credible explanation from Moscow for the presence of the banned Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok in his body.

The EU must stand up to Russia when it violates international norms, France and Germany's foreign ministers said on Thursday. A day earlier both countries said they would propose EU sanctions against Russian individuals after receiving no credible answers from Moscow over the use a nerve agent on Alexei Navalny.

Belarusian authorities on Friday announced they were imposing sanctions against the European Union and threatened to revise the country's diplomatic relations with the bloc, news wires reported. The move came in response to EU sanctions on several dozen Belarus officials accused of falsifying presidential election results and leading a crackdown on peaceful protesters.

The UK has imposed sanctions on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and seven other officials over election fraud and violence against protesters, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told Reuters on Tuesday.

Poland’s foreign minister stated on Monday that If the European Union does not impose sanctions on Belarusian officials, EU Member States neighbouring Belarus could consider imposing their own national sanctions.

The presidents of Lithuania, Poland and Romania will ask EU leaders at a summit later this week to offer a support package for Belarus if the country holds a democratic election, news wires reported. It would include a favourable trade regime, visa-free travel and support in negotiations to enter the WTO, according to the statement from the three presidents seen by Reuters.

The European Union prolonged its travel bans and asset freezes over Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea for another six months, until March next year, the European Council announced on Thursday.

The EU must impose sanctions on Belarus in response to a crackdown on opposition protests and the measures should also target President Alexander Lukashenko, the leader of the EPP political grouping said on Wednesday. “Europe must quickly agree on a list of sanctions. And from my point of view, it should include Lukashenko, the head of this system,” Manfred Weber said.

Germany, the current president of the Council of the EU, will discuss possible sanctions on Russia over the poisoning of Alexei Navalny if the Kremlin does not provide an explanation soon, its foreign minister Heiko Maas said on Sunday