BRUSSELS - The European Union (EU) is due to formally implement its new sanctions on Russia later Monday, the European Commission said on Monday, although a ceasefire is generally taking hold in eastern Ukraine.

A European Commission spokeswoman reiterated at a press conference that the new sanctions package toward Russia is due to be formally adopted by member states through a written procedure later Monday.

She said the new sanctions will be published in the official journal of the EU on Tuesday, meaning the action could come into effect.

An EU summit last Saturday decided to tighten sanctions applied in July against Russia over Ukraine situation, hitting the Russian financial, energy and defense sectors.