Australia is unlikely to immediately follow the US and EU's lead in imposing further sanctions on Russia because it still needs Moscow's help in aiding the unarmed police mission's safe passage to the MH17 crash site.

The United States and the European Union have both strengthened their sanctions against Russia as punishment for President Vladimir Putin's stance on Ukraine.

But Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Australia already had some sanctions against Russia and flagged the possibility of the government expanding those "further", but not before the multinational team had completed its mission.