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West warns Russia of sanctions amid Ukraine fighting West warns Russia of sanctions amid Ukraine fighting
(about 1 hour later)
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.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.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in Berlin that new sanctions could be applied if efforts to stabilise the situation were not speeded up.German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in Berlin that new sanctions could be applied if efforts to stabilise the situation were not speeded up.
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said inaction by Russia would mean a stronger case for sanctions.UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said inaction by Russia would mean a stronger case for sanctions.
President Petro Poroshenko warned he might end the truce due to violations. President Petro Poroshenko said violations might end the truce.
However, his foreign minister, Pavlo Klimkin, told reporters at a Nato meeting in Brussels on Wednesday that Ukraine would "stick to our unilateral ceasefire". However, his Foreign Minister, Pavlo Klimkin, told reporters at a Nato meeting in Brussels on Wednesday that Ukraine would "stick to our unilateral ceasefire," which began on Friday.
The ceasefire began on Friday. On Tuesday, a Ukrainian military helicopter was shot down with the loss of nine lives. On Tuesday, a Ukrainian military helicopter was shot down with the loss of nine lives, with reports of fighting overnight near the Russian border in Luhansk region.
There was also fighting overnight near the Russian border in Luhansk region. The Ukrainian military accused the rebels on Wednesday of breaking the ceasefire 44 times since it began.
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". But Alexander Borodai, prime minister of the self-styled Donetsk People's Republic, has said there is effectively no ceasefire because of government attacks.
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. More than 420 people have been killed in the region since mid-April, the UN estimates. The truce is part of Ukraine's plan to end two months of conflict with 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.
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.
Russian and Ukrainian media consider Putin stepRussian and Ukrainian media consider Putin step
President Poroshenko is expected to unveil proposals for constitutional reform to give regions greater self-government when he attends parliament on Thursday.President Poroshenko is expected to unveil proposals for constitutional reform to give regions greater self-government when he attends parliament on Thursday.
On Friday, he is due to sign the long-delayed association agreement with the European Union - a pact that was rejected in January by then President Viktor Yanukovych under heavy pressure from Russia. On Friday, he is due to sign the long-delayed association agreement with the European Union - a pact rejected in January by then President Viktor Yanukovych under pressure from Russia.
'Sanctions can return''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.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. She told the German parliament the move was "psychologically important" but warned that sanctions "can be put back on the agenda" if Ukrainian soldiers continued to die.
While Mrs Merkel said the decision was "psychologically important", she told German parliament that Ukrainian soldiers continued to die. 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.
"Progress is slow... Diplomatic solutions are always preferable but if nothing else works, sanctions can be put back on the agenda," she said. 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".
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". Russia denies claims that it is encouraging and arming the separatists.
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.
Nato accused Russia of failing to respect "international commitments".
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".
Russia denies claims by Ukraine and the West that it is encouraging and arming the separatists.
New fightingNew fighting
The separatist commander in the rebel stronghold of Sloviansk, Donetsk region, announced on Wednesday that his forces had shot down the helicopter.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 with artillery and mortars.In a statement, Igor Strelkov accused government forces of bombarding local villages with artillery and mortars.
A dawn mortar attack by the rebels on Wednesday inflicted "significant losses" on government forces near Sloviansk, he added.A dawn mortar attack by the rebels on Wednesday inflicted "significant losses" on government forces near Sloviansk, he added.
An AFP news agency crew visiting Sloviansk reported hearing a "wave of shelling being launched by Ukrainian forces" on Wednesday morning. This was met by the rebels with "extended rounds of anti-aircraft and heavy machine-gun fire".An AFP news agency crew visiting Sloviansk reported hearing a "wave of shelling being launched by Ukrainian forces" on Wednesday morning. This was met by the rebels with "extended rounds of anti-aircraft and heavy machine-gun fire".
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. There were also fresh clashes in Luhansk region on Wednesday, with Ukrainian MP Oleh Lyashko telling press that guards had come under attack 2km (1.2 miles) from the Russian border.
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 agreed on Monday to observe a ceasefire, proposed by the Ukrainian government, until Friday.Insurgents 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.
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'.