Anton Zverev of Reuters reports that
Pro-Russian rebels pounded encircled Ukrainian government forces on Monday and Kiev said it would not pull back heavy guns while a truce was being violated, leaving a European-brokered peace deal on the verge of collapse. The European Union kept pressure on Russia and the rebels by announcing a new list of separatists and Russians targeted with sanctions, to which Moscow promised an “adequate” response.
While the EU is threatening additional sanctions,
Russia’s Defense Ministry started a snap inspection of its paratrooper units in western Russia on Monday …
This, Reuters reports, is one of
… several unannounced military drills since relations with the West deteriorated over the Ukraine crisis, with Moscow criticizing what it says is a build-up of NATO forces near Russia’s borders.
