Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi speaking to journalists in Brussels.Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Draghi speaking to journalists in Brussels.

EU leaders had a message for Beijing as they gathered in Brussels to discuss new sanctions against Russia.

Chinese authorities have so far refused to condemn Russia's invasion of its neighbor and have instead upported Moscow's complaints about NATO expansion.

The United States has said that Russia has asked China for military and economic support, something that the Kremlin and Beijing have both denied.

Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi told CNBC that China is the most important country in the peace process and that they are all waiting.

The Prime Minister of Latvia told CNBC that China has a choice, and that is to join Russia in the war against Ukraine.

Sanna Marin said that the European Union had to make sure that China was on the right side of history with this war.

If China helps Russia, sanctions won't work in the way we want them to.

The European Union, along with the U.S., the U.K., Canada and others, have imposed various rounds of sanctions on Moscow.

According to the Institute of International Finance, a 15% contraction for the Russian economy this year and a 3% drop next year will wipe out 15 years of economic growth.

There could be more economic pain on the way.

The EU leaders are considering imposing new penalties on Russia as they gather for a two-day meeting in the Belgian capital.

Speaking to CNBC, the EU's Foreign Affairs Chief Josep Borrell said he expected new guidance from the heads of state on how to continue increasing the sanctions.

European leaders are unlikely to impose a full ban on Russian oil.

Poland and the Baltic nations are in favor of an immediate ban, but other EU member states are hesitant about taking this step fearing economic consequences.

Kallas said that the issue is the differing levels of dependency on Russian energy for nation states and the impact that an oil ban could have among European citizens.

The public opinion of every country and government is dependent on it and Europeans are not very patient with their own conveniences. She said that they don't have much patience with this and that it is creating problems for putting on more sanctions.

The public has to support those who are going through difficult times.