Pro-Russian armed men have seized a number of government buildings in eastern Ukraine
The observers were
taking part in a mission linked to the Organisation for Security and
Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
Jets
'violated air space'
Rebel militia continue
to occupy official buildings in a dozen eastern cities, defying the government
in Kiev.
The G7 statement is
unequivocal - it blames Russia for failing to implement the Geneva accord that
offered a diplomatic path out of this crisis. Accordingly, Moscow has now been
hit with more Western economic sanctions, the details to be revealed in a
matter of days. The G7 is still holding in reserve broader sanctions against
the Russian banking or financial sectors. That would be a last-ditch threat to
try to avert further military action against Ukraine.
But with Russian aircraft flying into
Ukrainian air-space and Russian ground exercises under way there is an ever
present danger of this crisis escalating out of control. Moscow will now be
weighing up the likely cost of sanctions, set against the central importance of
its strategic interests in Ukraine.
Russia has tens of
thousands of troops deployed along its side of the border with Ukraine and has
said it would act if its interests were threatened.
The US accused Russian
jets of violating Ukraine's airspace on Friday in a further sign of escalation.
Russia has denied involvement in the seizures of official buildings by pro-Russians in eastern Ukraine
Pentagon spokesman Col
Steven Warren said Russian aircraft had entered Ukrainian airspace several
times in the past 24 hours.
Meanwhile, the G7
praised Ukraine for acting with restraint in dealing with the "armed
bands" that had occupied government buildings.
But the group, which
includes the US, UK, Germany, Japan, France, Canada and Italy, condemned
Russia's "increasingly concerning rhetoric and ongoing threatening
military manoeuvres".
"Given the
urgency of securing the opportunity for a successful and peaceful democratic
vote next month in Ukraine's presidential elections, we have committed to act
urgently to intensify targeted sanctions and measures to increase the costs of
Russia's actions," said the statement.
The US and EU already
has assets freezes and travel bans in place target a number of Russian
individuals and firms accused of playing a part in the annexation of Crimea.
Russia has
demonstrated its firepower close to Ukraine's border, reports Jane-Frances
Kelly
Russia has denied
involvement in the seizures of official buildings by pro-Russians in eastern
Ukraine
Maps
'showed checkpoints'
On Friday, Ukraine's
interior ministry said armed separatists had seized OSCE representatives, who
were believed to be military observers from Germany, Denmark, Poland, Sweden
and the Czech Republic.
Crisis timeline
·
Nov 2013: President Viktor
Yanukovych abandons an EU deal, sparking protests
·
20-21 Feb 2014: Dozens killed in Kiev clashes
·
22 Feb: Mr Yanukovych flees
·
27-28 Feb: Pro-Russian gunmen
seize key buildings in Crimea
·
16 Mar: Crimea voters choose to secede in disputed referendum; Russia
later absorbs region
·
Apr: Pro-Russia
activists take over official buildings and police stations in eastern Ukraine
Pro-Russian leaders in
Sloviansk confirmed the bus had been stopped near the town of Sloviansk and
said they were checking the identities of those on board.
The self-proclaimed
mayor of Sloviansk, Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, said at least one passenger had been
carrying maps showing separatist checkpoints in the area, which suggested
"their involvement in espionage".
Last weekend, Mr
Ponomaryov broadcast an appeal to President Putin asking for Russian troops to
protect the city from "fascists" after three of his men died in a
gunfight.
Russia's OSCE envoy
Andrei Kelin promised to take "all possible steps" to free the
representatives, according to Russian media reports .
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