The European Parliament has passed a resolution urging governments to maintain sanctions against Russia over its alleged aggression in conflict-engulfed eastern Ukraine.
But the non-binding move, the second such vote in two days, revealed divisions among Western countries, and some are expected to restore trade relations with Russia.
The developments come as the United States promises, yet again, to keep up the pressure.
The United States envoy to the United Nations, Samantha Power, arrived in the Ukraine capital Kiev with a message.
"If Russia continues to disregard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and if Russia continues to violate the rules upon which international peace and security rest, then the United States will continue to raise the costs on Russia."
Speaking to an audience in Kiev, Ms Power has echoed the sentiments expressed by President Barack Obama at the meeting of G7 leaders in Germany only days earlier.
And Ms Power also conveyed her government's ongoing support for Ukraine.
"The United States has been with the Ukrainian people since the first brave protesters went out on the Maidan, and since the first little green men* showed up in Crimea and the Donbass. We have never left your side, and we are not going to leave your side now, when your hardship is great, your obstacles many and your path to change long."
European Union countries are expected to decide at a summit in Brussels later this month whether to withdraw sanctions against Russia.
The sanctions were mainly designed to squeeze the Russian economy, but some European countries are feeling the strain.
Two resolutions before the European Parliament from individual M-Ps urge maintaining sanctions until Crimea is returned to Ukraine and the Minsk agreements respected.
Russia annexed Crimea in March last year.
The resolutions are based on Ukraine's claim that thousands of Russian soldiers are in the country's east aiding separatist forces, with Russia's full backing.
The vote regarding the Minsk agreements passed, but it revealed a notable split in opinion, uniting groups regarded as far right and far left in opposition.
On the battlefront, European monitors say the situation is stable, but neither the Ukrainian military nor separatist forces have withdrawn their heavy weapons.
Both agreed to do so in February at Minsk, the Belarusian capital.
The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe says incidents are causing casualties almost daily, despite a ceasefire being in place.
And it warns fighting, which has already killed more than six thousand people since April 2014, still could surge.
In a bid to raise morale among Ukrainian soldiers, President Petro Poroshenko has travelled to the front line outside the port city of Mariupol.
And Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has gone to the United States, where he told CNN it is essential to strengthen the Ukrainian army.
"We expected that this so-called Minsk deal would be a good way to de-escalate the situation, and we still believe that this is the only solution. But in order to make this solution viable, and in order to implement the Minsk deal, we need to underpin diplomatic efforts with a strong, durable Ukrainian military. And we need to retain unity between the EU and the US and to act boldly and wisely against the Russian-led agression."
Russia denies it has a military presence in Ukraine or is helping arm the rebels.
During a visit to Italy, where he met with Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, President Vladimir Putin reiterated Russia's commitment to a peaceful outcome through diplomacy.
"For the Minsk agreements to be fully implemented in the protocol, the protocol actually includes all the aspects of the social, political, humanitarian, military agreement, but they are not all fully implemented. Our goal together, our work together, is going on with the delegation, with the participation of the ministers and with several people entrepreneurs, representatives of the business community."
Vladimir Putin also met with the Pope.
John Laughland is director of studies at the Paris-based Institute of Democracy and Cooperation.
He told Russia Today, that Russia has allies in Western Europe.
"Diplomatic relations were opened when Dmitry Medvedev was president, and they are based on the idea that Russia, together with the Holy See and the Catholic Church, can make a stand for traditional values. In other words, a stand against things like gay marriage, the undermining of the family and against the fate of Christians in the Middle East. The Middle Eastern issue was, indeed, at the forefront, as well, of discussions, and we had this in a press conference with Renzi, because Russia famously opposed -- if only by abstention -- the attack on Libya. Of course, it's Italy now which is receiving the full force of the blowback from Libya."
