The European Union (EU) may freeze 20 million euros for Rwanda for military operations against terrorism in Cabo Delgado province.

Cabo Delgado/Terrorism: Europe grants 20 million euros for Rwandan troops in Mozambique

This is one of the sanctioning measures that the bloc has put on the table to persuade Kigali to withdraw its support for the "terrorist" group M23 that has seized the town of Goma in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Other measures not yet adopted against Rwanda include individual sanctions against nine people and one entity. For the time being, European foreign ministers meeting in Brussels, Luxembourg, have suspended security talks with Rwanda.

On Monday, the bloc's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, said that the measures would be adopted on a diplomatic level.

"The situation is very serious and we are on the brink of a regional conflict. Territorial integrity is not negotiable either in the Democratic Republic of Congo or in Ukraine. The UN Charter applies in the same way everywhere. We clearly support the Luanda and Nairobi peace processes to achieve results through diplomatic means. But we are also taking other measures. First of all, the defense consultations between the European Union and Rwanda have been suspended. There is also a political decision to move forward with sanctions depending on the situation on the ground. We have asked Rwanda to withdraw its troops and the protocol on the treatment of raw materials will be reviewed," he said.

The sanctions have not yet been formalized, but the head of European diplomacy has indicated that the possible punishments will focus on the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the European Union and Rwanda about a year ago, in which the Europeans promised to cooperate with Kigali on economic diversification.