BRUSSELS, July 8 - The European Union has taken note of the latest developments in eastern Ukraine, notably endorsing the retaking of control by the Ukrainian authorities over a number of towns previously held by illegal armed groups.

Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson for EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, told this to Interfax-Ukraine when asked to comment on a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry, in which it expressed its expectations for a strong reaction from the EU in response to the military actions of the Ukrainian army in the east of the country.