EU imposes sanctions on Putin as Ukraine pleads for tougher action

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Vice-President In Charge of Foreign Policy Josep Borrell give a joint media statement on Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Brussels, Belgium February 24, 2022. Kenzo Tribouillard/Pool via REUTERS

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -EU states agreed to freeze any European assets of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his foreign minister on Friday, as Ukraine's leader pleaded for faster and more forceful sanctions to punish Russia's invasion of his country.

The move against Putin and his top diplomat, Sergei Lavrov, came as envoys of the EU's 27 member states agreed on a new wave of measures - their second this week - to hit Russia's elite and thwart operations of 70% of the country's banking system.