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| Ukraine crisis: Western leaders consider new Russia sanctions | Ukraine crisis: Western leaders consider new Russia sanctions |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Western heads of state say they are considering fresh sanctions against Russia over its alleged failure to help de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine. | Western heads of state say they are considering fresh sanctions against Russia over its alleged failure to help de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine. |
| France, Germany, the US, Britain and Italy accused Russia of disrespecting a deal to disarm pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. | France, Germany, the US, Britain and Italy accused Russia of disrespecting a deal to disarm pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. |
| Russia earlier accused the West of wanting to "seize" Ukraine. | Russia earlier accused the West of wanting to "seize" Ukraine. |
| Ukraine warned it would consider any crossing into its territory by Russian troops as a "military invasion". | Ukraine warned it would consider any crossing into its territory by Russian troops as a "military invasion". |
| Moscow has tens of thousands of troops stationed along its side of the border with Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists have been occupying key buildings in a dozen eastern towns, defying the central government in Kiev. | Moscow has tens of thousands of troops stationed along its side of the border with Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists have been occupying key buildings in a dozen eastern towns, defying the central government in Kiev. |
| A week ago Ukraine and Russia struck an agreement in Geneva calling for the separatists to leave official premises and give up their arms. The pact included an amnesty for those agreeing to retreat peacefully. | A week ago Ukraine and Russia struck an agreement in Geneva calling for the separatists to leave official premises and give up their arms. The pact included an amnesty for those agreeing to retreat peacefully. |
| In a separate development on Friday, Ukraine's interior ministry has said armed separatists in the eastern city of Sloviansk have seized a bus carrying international observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). | |
| 'Concerning rhetoric' | 'Concerning rhetoric' |
| On Friday, the White House said US President Barack Obama had discussed the situation in Ukraine with French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and the prime ministers of Britain and Italy. | On Friday, the White House said US President Barack Obama had discussed the situation in Ukraine with French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and the prime ministers of Britain and Italy. |
| "The leaders agreed to work closely together, and through the G7 and European Union, to coordinate additional steps to impose costs on Russia," the White House said. | "The leaders agreed to work closely together, and through the G7 and European Union, to coordinate additional steps to impose costs on Russia," the White House said. |
| "The leaders also agreed that Russia had not reciprocated - including by not publicly supporting the Geneva accord, nor calling on armed militant groups to lay down their arms and leave the government buildings they've occupied - and had in fact continued to escalate the situation through its increasingly concerning rhetoric and threatening military exercises on Ukraine's border." | "The leaders also agreed that Russia had not reciprocated - including by not publicly supporting the Geneva accord, nor calling on armed militant groups to lay down their arms and leave the government buildings they've occupied - and had in fact continued to escalate the situation through its increasingly concerning rhetoric and threatening military exercises on Ukraine's border." |
| France added in a statement that presidential elections, due to be held in Ukraine on 25 May, were "essential to permit Ukrainians to decide their future freely and transparently". | France added in a statement that presidential elections, due to be held in Ukraine on 25 May, were "essential to permit Ukrainians to decide their future freely and transparently". |
| Chancellor Merkel earlier said she had spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin to express her dissatisfaction with Russia's lack of commitment to bring about a "peaceful path of discussion" with the separatists in eastern Ukraine. | Chancellor Merkel earlier said she had spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin to express her dissatisfaction with Russia's lack of commitment to bring about a "peaceful path of discussion" with the separatists in eastern Ukraine. |
| Russia's foreign currency ratings were cut on Friday by the credit ratings agency Standard & Poor to one notch above "junk" status. | Russia's foreign currency ratings were cut on Friday by the credit ratings agency Standard & Poor to one notch above "junk" status. |
| The agency warned that further downgrades were possible if the West imposed tighter sanctions against Moscow. | The agency warned that further downgrades were possible if the West imposed tighter sanctions against Moscow. |
| 'World War Three' | 'World War Three' |
| Ukraine has launched military raids to regain the buildings occupied by separatists in several eastern towns. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described the raids as a "bloody crime". | Ukraine has launched military raids to regain the buildings occupied by separatists in several eastern towns. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described the raids as a "bloody crime". |
| On Friday acting Ukrainian Defence Minister Mikhail Koval said Russian forces had come within a kilometre of the border. | On Friday acting Ukrainian Defence Minister Mikhail Koval said Russian forces had come within a kilometre of the border. |
| Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk accused Russia of wanting to "start World War Three" by occupying Ukraine "militarily and politically" and by creating a conflict that would spread to the rest of Europe. | Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk accused Russia of wanting to "start World War Three" by occupying Ukraine "militarily and politically" and by creating a conflict that would spread to the rest of Europe. |
| On Thursday raids by Ukrainian commandos on pro-Russian checkpoints around the town of Sloviansk left at least two separatists dead. | On Thursday raids by Ukrainian commandos on pro-Russian checkpoints around the town of Sloviansk left at least two separatists dead. |
| There have also been reports from the port city of Odessa indicating that an explosion at a checkpoint injured at least seven people. | There have also been reports from the port city of Odessa indicating that an explosion at a checkpoint injured at least seven people. |
| Unrest began in Ukraine last November over whether the country should look towards Moscow or the West. | Unrest began in Ukraine last November over whether the country should look towards Moscow or the West. |
| Last month, Russia annexed Ukraine's mainly ethnic-Russian Crimea. This followed a referendum in the region that backed joining the Russian Federation but which the West and Kiev deemed illegal. | Last month, Russia annexed Ukraine's mainly ethnic-Russian Crimea. This followed a referendum in the region that backed joining the Russian Federation but which the West and Kiev deemed illegal. |