The government said Thursday it will consider imposing additional sanctions against Russia following the downing of a Malaysia Airlines passenger plane in an area of Ukraine controlled by pro-Russian separatists, a government source said.

The move was endorsed at a National Security Council meeting attended by top officials, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the source said.

Details of sanctions and when to invoke them will be decided after the European Union steps up its sanctions against Moscow, the source said.

Additional measures by Tokyo will likely be "limited" to contain the adverse impact they may cause on its negotiations with Russia over a territorial dispute, a Foreign Ministry source said earlier.

"If it is confirmed that pro-Russian forces in Ukraine have shot down (the Malaysian plane) using Russian-built weapons, additional sanctions will be unavoidable," said the Foreign Ministry source.