Pro-moscow Rebels

Russian troops and pro-Moscow rebels have linked up in a key region along the Azov Sea coast in eastern Ukraine, a defence ministry spokesman said Tuesday, on the sixth day of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ranged from conflict zones to U.S. politics Thursday in a news conference in which he tried to close gaps with Washington over Syria, noted that Moscow remained engaged in Ukraine and gave a nod to Donald Trump as the "absolute leader" in the White House race.

Russia today slammed the EU's extension of sanctions over its annexation of Crimea as "blackmail" and vowed it would not be pressured into returning the peninsula to Ukraine.

The Kremlin today accused Ukrainian forces of "provocative actions" as fresh clashes flared in east Ukraine after Kiev said pro-Moscow rebels launched a new assault.

Pro-Moscow rebels said they would start to withdraw heavy weapons from the front line in eastern Ukraine today but the government in Kiev said armoured columns had crossed the border from Russia to reinforce the separatists.

Russia's Gazprom on Thursday started supplying gas directly to the rebel-controlled area in east Ukraine after pro-Moscow separatist leaders said Kiev had cut supplies, the company's chief said.

European powers warned Russia it risked fresh sanctions if a ceasefire deal aimed at ending the 10-month war between Ukraine troops and pro-Moscow rebels was not implemented.

Marathon talks in Belarus ended today with a ceasefire announcement in the war between Ukraine and pro-Moscow rebels, but Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that "big hurdles" remained.

Germany's defence minister warned today that sending weapons to help Ukraine fight pro-Moscow rebels would "pour oil onto the flames" of the conflict and make a resolution less likely.

The UN said Monday that a rocket attack that killed 30 people in a city in eastern Ukraine deliberately targeted civilians, as Russian President Vladimir Putin spurned Western calls to rein in a pro-Moscow insurgency.

Kiev said on Wednesday it would halt payment of state funds in areas controlled by pro-Moscow rebels, as both sides hardened positions in what is rapidly becoming a "frozen conflict": a long-term stalemate that the West believes is Russia's aim.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko accused Russia on Monday of "direct and open aggression" in which he said had radically changed the battlefield balance as Kiev's forces suffer major reverses in the war with pro-Moscow separatists.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko warned a "full-scale war" was imminent if Russian troops continued to advance in support of pro-Moscow rebels, while US and European leaders threatened Moscow with further sanctions.

A Ukrainian fighter jet has been shot down by a Russian anti-aircraft system in the east of the country, where Kiev is fighting pro-Moscow rebels, Ukraine's military said on Saturday.

Ukraine called on Friday for full membership in NATO, its strongest plea yet for Western military help, after accusing Russia of sending in armoured columns that have driven back its forces on behalf of pro-Moscow rebels.

Russian troops and pro-Moscow rebels have linked up in a key region along the Azov Sea coast in eastern Ukraine, a defence ministry spokesman said Tuesday, on the sixth day of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ranged from conflict zones to U.S. politics Thursday in a news conference in which he tried to close gaps with Washington over Syria, noted that Moscow remained engaged in Ukraine and gave a nod to Donald Trump as the "absolute leader" in the White House race.

Russia today slammed the EU's extension of sanctions over its annexation of Crimea as "blackmail" and vowed it would not be pressured into returning the peninsula to Ukraine.

The Kremlin today accused Ukrainian forces of "provocative actions" as fresh clashes flared in east Ukraine after Kiev said pro-Moscow rebels launched a new assault.

Pro-Moscow rebels said they would start to withdraw heavy weapons from the front line in eastern Ukraine today but the government in Kiev said armoured columns had crossed the border from Russia to reinforce the separatists.

Russia's Gazprom on Thursday started supplying gas directly to the rebel-controlled area in east Ukraine after pro-Moscow separatist leaders said Kiev had cut supplies, the company's chief said.

European powers warned Russia it risked fresh sanctions if a ceasefire deal aimed at ending the 10-month war between Ukraine troops and pro-Moscow rebels was not implemented.

Marathon talks in Belarus ended today with a ceasefire announcement in the war between Ukraine and pro-Moscow rebels, but Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that "big hurdles" remained.

Germany's defence minister warned today that sending weapons to help Ukraine fight pro-Moscow rebels would "pour oil onto the flames" of the conflict and make a resolution less likely.

The UN said Monday that a rocket attack that killed 30 people in a city in eastern Ukraine deliberately targeted civilians, as Russian President Vladimir Putin spurned Western calls to rein in a pro-Moscow insurgency.

Kiev said on Wednesday it would halt payment of state funds in areas controlled by pro-Moscow rebels, as both sides hardened positions in what is rapidly becoming a "frozen conflict": a long-term stalemate that the West believes is Russia's aim.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko accused Russia on Monday of "direct and open aggression" in which he said had radically changed the battlefield balance as Kiev's forces suffer major reverses in the war with pro-Moscow separatists.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko warned a "full-scale war" was imminent if Russian troops continued to advance in support of pro-Moscow rebels, while US and European leaders threatened Moscow with further sanctions.

A Ukrainian fighter jet has been shot down by a Russian anti-aircraft system in the east of the country, where Kiev is fighting pro-Moscow rebels, Ukraine's military said on Saturday.

Ukraine called on Friday for full membership in NATO, its strongest plea yet for Western military help, after accusing Russia of sending in armoured columns that have driven back its forces on behalf of pro-Moscow rebels.