BRUSSELS (AFP) - The broad EU economic sanctions against Russia adopted on Tuesday are intended to be "a strong warning" but could be reversed if Moscow changes course in Ukraine, EU President Herman Van Rompuy said.

The sanctions targeting Russia's finance, defence and energy sectors are "meant as a strong warning" that its actions in Ukraine cannot be tolerated but if Moscow changes course, then the EU too is "ready to reverse its decisions," Van Rompuy said in a statement.