TALLINN, June 9 - Estonian Foreign Minister Keit Pentus-Rosimannus called for stepping up Western sanctions against Russia and urges the U.S. to take long-term security measures in the region in light of the ongoing Ukraine crisis.

"Current developments in Eastern Ukraine unfortunately show that the ceasefire violations are becoming constant. We have to be ready to increase economic sanctions in the event of an escalation," the Estonian Foreign Ministry quoted Pentus-Rosimannus as saying at a meeting with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken.