German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Wednesday called for a cease-fire in Ukraine and a credible prevention of arms supply to armed groups in the country's eastern regions.

"No end to the chaos in eastern Ukraine. Violence is escalating for months, and people lose their lives every day," Steinmeier commented in a statement on the current situation in Ukraine.

As a response, the European Union (EU) had decided in great unity to take severe measures against those responsible and their supporters, which would include economic sanctions for the first time, said the minister.

According to a statement of the German government, the EU agreed Tuesday to impose fresh sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine conflict.

The further-reaching measures include an EU arms embargo on Russia, and Russian state-owned banks would be restricted to access to the European capital market, the statement said. High-tech goods for oil production would also no longer be exported to the country.

Steinmeier stressed it was still important to continue to seek ways to reach a political solution to the Ukraine crisis, calling for a cease-fire in the country and a credible prevention of arms supply to the armed groups in eastern regions.

He urged steps toward a cease-fire at a meeting scheduled for this week in Minsk, which the international Contact Group and representatives from eastern Ukraine would attend.

Speaking of the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, Steinmeier also called on all sides to help ensure OSCE observers and international experts unhindered access to the crash site of MH17.