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| Ukraine crisis: Pro-Russian gunmen show seized monitors | Ukraine crisis: Pro-Russian gunmen show seized monitors |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Pro-Russian gunmen in eastern Ukraine have shown seized European military observers to the media, amid attempts to secure their immediate release. | Pro-Russian gunmen in eastern Ukraine have shown seized European military observers to the media, amid attempts to secure their immediate release. |
| One of the observers presented in the city of Sloviansk said that none of the group had been harmed. | One of the observers presented in the city of Sloviansk said that none of the group had been harmed. |
| A team from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is hoping to begin negotiations. | |
| The gunmen continue to occupy official buildings in a dozen eastern cities, defying the government in Kiev. | The gunmen continue to occupy official buildings in a dozen eastern cities, defying the government in Kiev. |
| In a separate development on Sunday, pro-Russian gunmen said they had captured three Ukrainian security services members overnight in eastern Ukraine. Kiev later confirmed a number of its officers had been seized. | In a separate development on Sunday, pro-Russian gunmen said they had captured three Ukrainian security services members overnight in eastern Ukraine. Kiev later confirmed a number of its officers had been seized. |
| This comes as the US and EU are preparing new sanctions against Russia, accusing it of destabilising Ukraine. | This comes as the US and EU are preparing new sanctions against Russia, accusing it of destabilising Ukraine. |
| US President Barack Obama said the Kremlin had "not lifted a finger" to implement last week's deal in Geneva aimed at easing the crisis. | US President Barack Obama said the Kremlin had "not lifted a finger" to implement last week's deal in Geneva aimed at easing the crisis. |
| EU diplomats are expected to meet on Monday to discuss fresh sanctions against Russia. | EU diplomats are expected to meet on Monday to discuss fresh sanctions against Russia. |
| The Kremlin denies supporting the militia in eastern Ukraine. | The Kremlin denies supporting the militia in eastern Ukraine. |
| 'Guests' | 'Guests' |
| The observers from Germany, Denmark, Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic were presented to reporters in Sloviansk on Sunday. | The observers from Germany, Denmark, Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic were presented to reporters in Sloviansk on Sunday. |
| The monitors - who were captured in the flashpoint town on Friday - were led into the building by masked gunmen. | The monitors - who were captured in the flashpoint town on Friday - were led into the building by masked gunmen. |
| "All the European officers are in good health and no-one is sick," said German monitor Col Axel Schneider. | |
| "We have no indication when we will be sent home to our countries." | "We have no indication when we will be sent home to our countries." |
| He added: "We're not fighters, we're diplomats in uniforms." | |
| The observers were also quoted as saying they were "guests, not prisoners of war". | The observers were also quoted as saying they were "guests, not prisoners of war". |
| Earlier in the day, an OSCE source told the BBC that the group's negotiating team had been sent to Sloviansk to try to secure the monitors' release. | |
| The source declined to say how many negotiators were heading to the flashpoint eastern town. | The source declined to say how many negotiators were heading to the flashpoint eastern town. |
| Meanwhile, Sloviansk's self-declared mayor Vyacheslav Ponomaryov said there was the possibility of exchanging the monitors for militia members held by the Kiev government. | Meanwhile, Sloviansk's self-declared mayor Vyacheslav Ponomaryov said there was the possibility of exchanging the monitors for militia members held by the Kiev government. |
| "It's the fundamental option," he told Reuters. | "It's the fundamental option," he told Reuters. |
| Russia, an OSCE member, earlier pledged that it would "take all possible steps" to secure the release of the observers. | Russia, an OSCE member, earlier pledged that it would "take all possible steps" to secure the release of the observers. |
| Meanwhile, Kiev accused the militia of using the Europeans as a "human shield". | Meanwhile, Kiev accused the militia of using the Europeans as a "human shield". |
| The West is accusing Moscow of leading a secessionist revolt in eastern Ukraine after it annexed Crimea last month. Moscow denies the claim. | The West is accusing Moscow of leading a secessionist revolt in eastern Ukraine after it annexed Crimea last month. Moscow denies the claim. |
| Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Ukraine must end military operations in the east of the country as part of urgent measures to defuse the crisis. | Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Ukraine must end military operations in the east of the country as part of urgent measures to defuse the crisis. |
| Ukrainian troops have carried out a number of raids to try to regain control of official buildings. | Ukrainian troops have carried out a number of raids to try to regain control of official buildings. |
| The crisis began when protesters toppled pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych in February and has since plunged East-West relations to their lowest point since the Cold War. | The crisis began when protesters toppled pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych in February and has since plunged East-West relations to their lowest point since the Cold War. |
| Russia has tens of thousands of troops deployed along its side of the border with Ukraine and has said it will act if its interests are threatened. | Russia has tens of thousands of troops deployed along its side of the border with Ukraine and has said it will act if its interests are threatened. |
| On Saturday, the G7 praised Ukraine for acting with restraint in dealing with the "armed bands" that had occupied government buildings. | On Saturday, the G7 praised Ukraine for acting with restraint in dealing with the "armed bands" that had occupied government buildings. |
| But the group, which comprises the US, UK, Germany, Japan, France, Canada and Italy, condemned Russia's "increasingly concerning rhetoric and ongoing threatening military manoeuvres." | But the group, which comprises the US, UK, Germany, Japan, France, Canada and Italy, condemned Russia's "increasingly concerning rhetoric and ongoing threatening military manoeuvres." |
| The G7 said it was committed to intensifying sanctions on Russia, ahead of Ukrainian presidential elections next month. | The G7 said it was committed to intensifying sanctions on Russia, ahead of Ukrainian presidential elections next month. |
| The US and EU already have asset freezes and travel bans in place targeting a number of Russian individuals and firms accused of playing a part in the annexation of Crimea. | The US and EU already have asset freezes and travel bans in place targeting a number of Russian individuals and firms accused of playing a part in the annexation of Crimea. |