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Ukraine crisis: US and UK consider new Russia sanctions Ukraine crisis: US and UK consider new Russia sanctions
(35 minutes later)
The US and UK are considering deeper sanctions against Russia following the recent events in the eastern Ukraine conflict, US Secretary of State John Kerry has said.The US and UK are considering deeper sanctions against Russia following the recent events in the eastern Ukraine conflict, US Secretary of State John Kerry has said.
Speaking during a visit to London, Mr Kerry accused Moscow of "craven behaviour" in its support for the rebels, undermining a ceasefire.Speaking during a visit to London, Mr Kerry accused Moscow of "craven behaviour" in its support for the rebels, undermining a ceasefire.
But a Kremlin spokesman said sanctions would not help solve Ukraine's crisis.But a Kremlin spokesman said sanctions would not help solve Ukraine's crisis.
The ceasefire, agreed this month in Minsk, has often seemed near collapse.The ceasefire, agreed this month in Minsk, has often seemed near collapse.
Speaking before talks with UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond in London, Mr Kerry said "additional sanctions" were on the agenda. However, a prisoner exchange has been carried out on the front line - the first stage of one of the key points of the deal.
"Russia has engaged in an absolutely brazen and cynical process over these last days," he said. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko tweeted that 139 Ukrainian troops had been freed. Media reports say 52 rebels were exchanged for them.
Russia's Interfax news agency reported that one captured Ukrainian soldier had refused to take part in the exchange for "unknown reasons".
Paul Adams, BBC News, DonetskPaul Adams, BBC News, Donetsk
From the centre of Donetsk, it's still possible to hear the distant rumble of artillery and rockets. The area around the devastated airport remains, as it has been for months, a flashpoint.From the centre of Donetsk, it's still possible to hear the distant rumble of artillery and rockets. The area around the devastated airport remains, as it has been for months, a flashpoint.
Reports from an area just to the east of Mariupol suggest that shelling continues there too.Reports from an area just to the east of Mariupol suggest that shelling continues there too.
But the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which has monitors on the ground, says it's seeing signs of progress elsewhere.But the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which has monitors on the ground, says it's seeing signs of progress elsewhere.
One other small sign that last week's ceasefire deal is not completely dead is that a prisoner swap may now be under way. We saw a bus carrying around 40 men leaving Donetsk this morning, heading for Luhansk, where the handover should take place this evening.One other small sign that last week's ceasefire deal is not completely dead is that a prisoner swap may now be under way. We saw a bus carrying around 40 men leaving Donetsk this morning, heading for Luhansk, where the handover should take place this evening.
Speaking before talks with UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond in London, Mr Kerry said "additional sanctions" were on the agenda.
"Russia has engaged in an absolutely brazen and cynical process over these last days," he said.
"We're not going to sit there and be part of this kind of extraordinarily craven behaviour at the expense of the sovereignty and integrity of a nation.""We're not going to sit there and be part of this kind of extraordinarily craven behaviour at the expense of the sovereignty and integrity of a nation."
Ukraine and rebel forces accuse each other of multiple breaches of the truce, and there were reports of violations around Donetsk and the port city of Mariupol on Saturday.Ukraine and rebel forces accuse each other of multiple breaches of the truce, and there were reports of violations around Donetsk and the port city of Mariupol on Saturday.
However both sides are preparing to carry out the first stage of one of the key points of the deal, a prisoner exchange. Meanwhile an adviser to Mr Poroshenko, Yuri Biriukov, said the Ukrainian death toll in last week's battle for the key town of Debaltseve was possibly 179, with 81 missing - a much higher figure than previously announced.
The rebels announced that between 35 and 39 Ukrainian soldiers and 37 people held by the Ukrainian government were to be freed in the Luhansk region.
Meanwhile an adviser to Ukrainian President Viktor Poroshenko, Yuri Biriukov, said the Ukrainian death toll in last week's battle for the key town of Debaltseve was possibly 179, with 81 missing - a much higher figure than previously announced.
The rebels took the strategic transport hub in spite of the ceasefire signed on 12 February, arguing the truce did not apply to the flashpoint town, forcing government troops to retreat.The rebels took the strategic transport hub in spite of the ceasefire signed on 12 February, arguing the truce did not apply to the flashpoint town, forcing government troops to retreat.
Nearly 5,700 people have died since the fighting erupted last April and some 1.5 million people have fled their homes, according to the UN.Nearly 5,700 people have died since the fighting erupted last April and some 1.5 million people have fled their homes, according to the UN.
The Ukrainian government, Western leaders and Nato say there is clear evidence that Russia is helping the rebels in eastern Ukraine with heavy weapons and soldiers. Independent experts echo that accusation. Moscow denies it, insisting that any Russians serving with the rebels are "volunteers".The Ukrainian government, Western leaders and Nato say there is clear evidence that Russia is helping the rebels in eastern Ukraine with heavy weapons and soldiers. Independent experts echo that accusation. Moscow denies it, insisting that any Russians serving with the rebels are "volunteers".
'Pay price''Pay price'
Reacting to Mr Kerry's comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov urged the US and Europe to support the implementation of the Minsk agreements.Reacting to Mr Kerry's comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov urged the US and Europe to support the implementation of the Minsk agreements.
"The obsession to make somebody 'pay a price' - as they like saying in Washington - absolutely does not contribute to settling the situation in the southeast of Ukraine," he told Russia's Ekho Moskvy radio."The obsession to make somebody 'pay a price' - as they like saying in Washington - absolutely does not contribute to settling the situation in the southeast of Ukraine," he told Russia's Ekho Moskvy radio.
Mr Kerry's remarks came after a bipartisan group of US senators wrote to him calling for a tightening of sanctions and the provision of defensive weapons to the Ukrainian government.Mr Kerry's remarks came after a bipartisan group of US senators wrote to him calling for a tightening of sanctions and the provision of defensive weapons to the Ukrainian government.
Mr Kerry described as "unacceptable" the situation around the south-eastern port city of Mariupol, where rebels were accused of shelling government forces and building up equipment and troop numbers.Mr Kerry described as "unacceptable" the situation around the south-eastern port city of Mariupol, where rebels were accused of shelling government forces and building up equipment and troop numbers.
The Ukrainian government fears that rebels will attempt to capture the city to provide a corridor to Crimea, a Ukrainian territory annexed by Russia last year.The Ukrainian government fears that rebels will attempt to capture the city to provide a corridor to Crimea, a Ukrainian territory annexed by Russia last year.
The continued fighting comes as Ukraine marked a year since the downfall of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, following mass protests in central Kiev.The continued fighting comes as Ukraine marked a year since the downfall of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, following mass protests in central Kiev.
A rally took place in Moscow on Saturday to condemn the ousting, which many Russians regard as a "coup".A rally took place in Moscow on Saturday to condemn the ousting, which many Russians regard as a "coup".
Police estimated that about 35,000 people in total took part.Police estimated that about 35,000 people in total took part.
The BBC's Sarah Rainsford, at the march, says many people at the march blame America and Europe for engineering regime change in Ukraine.The BBC's Sarah Rainsford, at the march, says many people at the march blame America and Europe for engineering regime change in Ukraine.
Are you in Ukraine and affected by the recent unrest? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. If you would be happy to speak to a BBC journalist please include a contact telephone number.Are you in Ukraine and affected by the recent unrest? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. If you would be happy to speak to a BBC journalist please include a contact telephone number.
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