Fresh sanctions against Russia are likely to be discussed when EU foreign ministers meet in Brussels to discuss the Ukraine crisis today.
The emergency gathering was called after pro-Russian rebels shelled Mariupol at the weekend.
The rocket attack on the eastern Ukrainian port city killed an estimated 30 people and wounded dozens more. The attack came after a separatist leader announced a new offensive in the city.
NATO intelligence claims hundreds of Russian tanks and armoured vehicles are in eastern Ukraine.
Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan is appealing to Russia to use its influence to bring about an end to the violence.
In a statement ahead of today's extraordinary meeting, Minister Flanagan said "I call on Russia to use its considerable influence over the separatists to bring an end to the violence and to ensure that the commitments of the Minsk agreements are respected and fully implemented.
“It is important now that there is an immediate halt to the military operations in Eastern Ukraine," he said, adding that he believed the EU meeting "is timely and warranted by the seriousness of recent events."
