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U.S. President Barack Obama and European leaders Tuesday warned Russia they were ready to step up sanctions if there were further violations of a cease-fire agreement in Ukraine, officials said, Reuters reported.

The threats came in statements issued after a video conference that brought together Obama and the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Italy, as well as the head of the European Council.

The virtual meeting took place amid continuing violence in Ukraine despite the two-week-old cease-fire agreement reached in Minsk.

“Leaders will be ready to decide on further sanctions if the Minsk agreements are further violated,” said a European Union statement that was echoed by one from German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman.

The office of French President Francois Hollande said the leaders agreed that a major breach of the agreement would make a “strong reaction from the international community” necessary.

The United States has also said it is still considering the possibility of sending Kiev weapons.