The EU sanctions have had implications for the Russian economy yet their impact on the Russian policy is still in question, incoming EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini stated.

She said at the confirmation hearings at the European Parliament she believed Russia's economy "is starting to suffer quite a lot" because of EU sanctions, but she questioned whether the sanctions had been effective in changing Russian policies.

"Are they effective on Russian political decisions? I think we still have a question mark there," she said.

Mogherini argued that a political solution to the conflict the best route ahead and it was necessary to keep working with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

Speaking of the sanctions imposed on Russia, Mogherini said, "We need to work maybe even on increasing the sanctions...if things get worse. We could lift the sanctions if things get better."

She dismissed claims that Washington had pushed the EU into imposing sanctions on Russia and said, "The decisions taken in the European Council have never been easy but they have always been independent...and based on...European discussions."

She also reiterated her view that there is no military solution to the Ukraine crisis.