The EU is reportedly working with the US on a range of sanctions against Russia over its capture of Ukraine sailors in the Kerch Strait near Crimea last year.

Brussels and Washington are believed to be coordinating their efforts in order to strengthen the effect on Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime.

Foreign ministers from all 28 current EU member states are due to discuss further sanctions as part of a wider debate on the situation in Ukraine next Monday.

It comes after Russia seized three Ukrainian ships in the Black Sea last November.

Kerch Strait

Russian ships fired on the Ukrainian vessels as they moved to block them from entering the Kerch Strait near Crimea – injuring six people.

Ukrainian authorities said a total of 23 sailors were captured along with the three ships and Kiev labelled them “prisoners of war.”

Moscow claimed the vessels illegally crossed the Russian border and warned that a criminal case had been opened. The sailors remain in detention.

Three Ukrainian naval ships that were seized by Russia, 26-11-2018. Image: Bai Xueqi/Xinhua News Agency/PA Images

The response to the Russian action has so far been relatively weak and there is concern in some circles that failure to censure the Kremlin for what amounts to a violation of international maritime law could embolden it to further disrupt shipping in the area.

It is believed EU officials are already drafting sanctions to target those responsible for the Kerch Strait incident. A final decision is expected within the coming weeks.

A crew member of the Ukrainian ship that was seized by the Federal Security Service of Russia in Kerch, Viktor Korotaev/Kommersant/Sipa USA

Under a 2003 treaty, both the Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov are designated as shared territorial waters between Ukraine and Russia.

However, relations between the two have deteriorated sharply since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea.

Since the annexation, Russia has moved to claim the strait in its entirety and has been working to assert its control over the passage.

Additional reporting from IRN