EU closer to sanctions against Russia, Britain says

LONDON , July 28 (UPI) -- Tougher European Union sanctions against Russia could be announced as early as Tuesday, and could be enforced with 24 hours of an agreement.

A statement by a spokeswoman for British Prime Minister David Cameron said talks are moving in the proper direction for stronger sanctions over Russia's involvement in Ukraine. She added the focus of Cameron, who has been more outspoken on additional sanctions than his EU counterparts, is on securing agreement "as quickly as possible."

She added sanctions would likely come in the financial, defense and high-tech energy sectors, and said that, if financial sanctions are imposed, there may be "some pain to be had here in the U.K."

EU representatives will meet in Brussels Tuesday. Over the weekend, the organization added 15 individuals and 18 businesses and government agencies to its sanctions list, including Russia's Federal security service -- whose forerunner was the KGB -- Razman Kadyrov, president of Chechnya and two Crimean energy firms.

There are currently 87 Russian individuals, subject to asset freezes and travel bans, sanctioned by the European Union.