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Ukraine foes cast doubt on ceasefire West warns Russia of sanctions amid Ukraine fighting
(about 1 hour later)
Both sides in the Ukraine conflict have cast doubt on a newly called ceasefire, following the downing of a military helicopter on Tuesday. The West has warned Russia of new sanctions after fighting flared up in eastern Ukraine despite a truce between the government and pro-Russian rebels.
Pro-Russia separatist leader Alexander Borodai said that in his view there had "been no ceasefire". German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in Berlin that new sanctions could be applied if efforts to stabilise the situation were not speeded up.
Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko warned he might end the truce due to "constant violation by rebels". UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said inaction by Russia would mean a stronger case for sanctions.
Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen has accused Russia of failing to "respect its international commitments". President Petro Poroshenko warned he might end the truce due to violations.
In a statement, he said Moscow was "using a new different type of warfare against Ukraine" and he promised a "package of long-term support measures for Ukraine, including the creation of new trust funds". The ceasefire began on Friday. On Tuesday, a Ukrainian military helicopter was shot down with the loss of nine lives.
Russia denies claims by Ukraine and the West that it is encouraging and arming the separatists. There was fighting overnight into Wednesday near the Russian border in Luhansk region.
Insurgents had agreed on Monday to observe a ceasefire, proposed by the Ukrainian government, until Friday, but on Tuesday the Ukrainian military announced that separatists had shot down an Mi-8 helicopter outside the rebel-held city of Sloviansk, killing all nine people on board. The Ukrainian military accused the rebels on Wednesday of breaking the ceasefire 44 times since it began. A separatist leader said there had "been no ceasefire".
Mr Poroshenko's office said gunmen had attacked government forces on 35 occasions since he ordered his troops to hold their fire. The truce is part of Ukraine's plan to end two months of fighting between government troops and pro-Russian insurgents who control key buildings in towns and cities across the east.
The ceasefire is part of Ukraine's plan to end two months of fighting between government troops and pro-Russian insurgents who control key buildings in towns and cities across the east.
More than 420 people have been killed in the region since mid-April, the UN estimates.More than 420 people have been killed in the region since mid-April, the UN estimates.
'Sanctions can return'
Mrs Merkel welcomed the surprise decision by Russian President Vladimir Putin to cancel a parliamentary resolution authorising him to use Russian forces in Ukraine.
The cancellation was ratified by Russia's upper house of parliament on Wednesday.
While Mrs Merkel said the decision was "psychologically important", she told German parliament that Ukrainian soldiers continued to die.
Analysis: David Stern, BBC News, KievAnalysis: David Stern, BBC News, Kiev
One would suspect that the Ukrainian government's truce in the east is now a dead letter. Public outrage alone would seem to demand some sort of military retaliation.One would suspect that the Ukrainian government's truce in the east is now a dead letter. Public outrage alone would seem to demand some sort of military retaliation.
And if the Ukrainian government uses force, then very likely the Ukrainian insurgents and their Russian comrades-in-arms will answer in kind. An escalation seems inevitable.And if the Ukrainian government uses force, then very likely the Ukrainian insurgents and their Russian comrades-in-arms will answer in kind. An escalation seems inevitable.
At this point, it is close to impossible to determine why the militants decided to carry out such a provocative act, just one day after they declared a ceasefire. Maybe this was some rogue element. Maybe the insurgents were never serious. Maybe Moscow told them to do it.At this point, it is close to impossible to determine why the militants decided to carry out such a provocative act, just one day after they declared a ceasefire. Maybe this was some rogue element. Maybe the insurgents were never serious. Maybe Moscow told them to do it.
Whatever the reason, the hopes of just 24 hours ago, that Ukraine's east could finally see peace, if only temporarily, ring especially hollow.Whatever the reason, the hopes of just 24 hours ago, that Ukraine's east could finally see peace, if only temporarily, ring especially hollow.
Mr Poroshenko has instructed Ukrainian soldiers to fire back "without hesitation" if attacked and has not ruled out ending the ceasefire early, his office says. "Progress is slow... Diplomatic solutions are always preferable but if nothing else works, sanctions can be put back on the agenda," she said.
Alexander Borodai, prime minister of the self-styled Donetsk People's Republic, accused government forces of launching attacks near the city of Donetsk and said there was effectively no ceasefire. Her Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, said in Brussels that the helicopter attack showed "just how fragile the situation is and how fast progress made can be destroyed... by the separatists on the ground".
"In general, all that is left to us is to continue fighting," he told Russian television. UK Foreign Secretary William Hague, who was also in Brussels for a meeting of Nato ministers, said the downing of the helicopter was hard to reconcile with Mr Putin's avowed support for peace in Ukraine.
He was speaking as Russian President Vladimir Putin asked the Russian upper house of parliament to revoke a resolution from 1 March authorising him to send troops into Ukraine. A vote is expected on Wednesday. Nato accused Russia of failing to respect "international commitments".
Mr Putin cautiously welcomed the truce but said he wanted Ukraine to begin direct talks with rebels, guaranteeing the rights of the Russian-speaking minority. In a statement, Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Moscow was "using a new different type of warfare against Ukraine" and he promised a "package of long-term support measures for Ukraine, including the creation of new trust funds".
Mr Rasmussen was speaking before a meeting of Nato foreign ministers which will discuss, among other things, how Nato can help build up the military capabilities of Ukraine, which is not a member. Russia denies claims by Ukraine and the West that it is encouraging and arming the separatists.
US state department spokeswoman Marie Harf has described the situation in Ukraine as "two steps forward, one step back". "We do see some positive signs on the ground," she told reporters. New fighting
Washington says it is considering further sanctions against Russia if it fails to rein in the separatists and continues - as the White House claims - to supply them with weapons. The separatist commander in the rebel stronghold of Sloviansk, Donetsk region, announced on Wednesday that his forces had shot down the helicopter.
In a statement, Igor Strelkov accused government forces of bombarding local villages into the night with artillery and mortars.
A dawn mortar attack by the rebels on Wednesday inflicted "significant losses" on government forces near Sloviansk, he said. There was no independent confirmation of the claim.
In Luhansk region, artillery and small arms fire could be heard early on Wednesday near the village of Biryukovo, 2km (1.2 miles) from the Russian border, eyewitnesses told Russia's Interfax news agency.
Ukrainian MP Oleh Lyashko was quoted by Ukrainian media as saying border guards had come under attack by rebels at Biryukovo during the night. There were no casualties, he added, without giving his source.
Insurgents had agreed on Monday to observe a ceasefire, proposed by the Ukrainian government, until Friday.
But Alexander Borodai, prime minister of the self-styled Donetsk People's Republic, has said there is effectively no ceasefire because of government attacks.
On Friday, Mr Poroshenko is due to sign a free trade agreement with the EU - a pact that was rejected in January by then President Viktor Yanukovych under heavy pressure from Russia.On Friday, Mr Poroshenko is due to sign a free trade agreement with the EU - a pact that was rejected in January by then President Viktor Yanukovych under heavy pressure from Russia.
Are you in Ukraine? How has the unrest affected you? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject line 'Ukraine'.Are you in Ukraine? How has the unrest affected you? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject line 'Ukraine'.