Minsk

Minsk signatories "urged to return to talks"

VIENNA, BELGRADE -- OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ivica Dacic has reiterated his call to all sides in the Ukrainian conflict to return to the negotiating table.

Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu warns about the danger of prolonging and expanding of the conflict situation in Ukraine. Speaking in the extraordinary meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the EU in Brussels on Thursday, he called for 'sincere political will for a negotiated solution.'

Photo credit: (c) SIMION MECHNO / AGERPRES FLOW

The foreign ministers of the European Union (EU) member states are planning to expand the sanctions against Russia in view of the renewed escalation of violence in Ukraine.

This becomes clear from the draft conclusions of the foreign ministers that is to take place on Thursday, EUobserver reports.

US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said on Jan. 28 that Washington was ready to increase sanctions on Russia over its actions in war-torn Ukraine.
 
Lew's comments during a visit to Kyiv came one day after EU heads of state threatened to impose further financial measures against Moscow in response to the latest upsurge in violence in Ukraine's nine-month war.
 

Greece's new government on Tuesday distanced itself from an EU call to consider expansion of the bloc's sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine crisis.

The move could be setting the stage for possible friction with Greece's partners in the bloc over foreign policy issues in addition to disagreements over economic and financial policies.

OSCE condemns "use of heavy weapons"

VIENNA, NEW YORK -- The OSCE Permanent Council held a special meeting on Monday concerning the deterioration of the situation in eastern Ukraine.

The meeting concerned "especially the clashes in civilian parts of Mariupol," Tanjug reported.

The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has again called for restraint of all parties involved in the conflict in eastern Ukraine following new killing of civilians in the Donetsk region.

BELGRADE - OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic voiced his concern on Friday over the escalation of the conflict in eastern Ukraine and appealed to all sides to immediately stop using heavy weapons in civilian areas.

Tram stop in Donetsk comes under fire

DONETSK -- A number of people died on Thursday morning in Donetsk when a tram stop was shelled, while dozens more were injured.

The Russian media initially reported that the number of victims was 13, revising it to 9 later in the day.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced on Wednesday that Russia had more than 9000 troops and 500 tanks, heavy artillery and armoured personnel carriers in eastern Ukraine.

Poroshenko hurled this accusation during his visit at the World Economic Forum in Davos, which he had to leave earlier due to the renewed escalation of violence in Ukraine, the BBC reports.