EU set to leave decisions on tougher Russia sanctions to leaders

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - With European Union governments divided, a decision on whether to tighten economic sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine conflict is likely to be left to EU leaders, who next meet in mid-December, diplomats said on Thursday.

EU foreign ministers will discuss Ukraine at a meeting in Brussels on Monday, the first chaired by the EU's new foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini. But no decisions on ratcheting up economic sanctions on Russia are expected despite the deteriorating security situation in eastern Ukraine.