Pro-Russian separatist fighters from Battalion Vostok (East) wait behind sandbag walls at a checkpoint on the outskirts of the eastern Ukrainian city.
Washington:
The United States is planning additional sanctions to impose on Russia in response to the crisis in Ukraine and could unveil them later in the day, the White House said.
"We have made it clear that additional sanctions and additional costs could be imposed on Russia," spokesman Josh Earnest said.
"We do anticipate that we'll have some news on that soon as soon as today."
Earlier, Washington's European allies had announced a raft of new sanctions designed to punish Moscow for its alleged role in fomenting separatist violence in Ukraine.
And US Secretary of State John Kerry also said similar American measures were in the offing.
"We are in the process of preparing additional sanctions, with Europe," Kerry told reporters.
But he suggested Moscow might avoid punishment as President Vladimir Putin "still has a choice going forward with respect to his ability to be able to have an impact with the separatists."
Speaking after meeting with new Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin at the State Department, Kerry said he had raised concerns over Russia's role in stirring unrest in eastern Ukraine during a telephone call Tuesday with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
"But the Russians and their so-called volunteers are continuing to ship arms and funds and personnel across the border. We see this. There is clear evidence of it," Kerry said.
The new European Union measures impose restrictions on Moscow's finance, defense and energy sectors so as to increase the cost to Russia of its continued intervention in Ukraine.
Notably, Russian state-owned banks will find access to European financial markets limited, meaning their costs could rise, with a knock-on effect on Russia's struggling economy.
"We have made it clear that additional sanctions and additional costs could be imposed on Russia," spokesman Josh Earnest said.
"We do anticipate that we'll have some news on that soon as soon as today."
Earlier, Washington's European allies had announced a raft of new sanctions designed to punish Moscow for its alleged role in fomenting separatist violence in Ukraine.
And US Secretary of State John Kerry also said similar American measures were in the offing.
"We are in the process of preparing additional sanctions, with Europe," Kerry told reporters.
But he suggested Moscow might avoid punishment as President Vladimir Putin "still has a choice going forward with respect to his ability to be able to have an impact with the separatists."
Speaking after meeting with new Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin at the State Department, Kerry said he had raised concerns over Russia's role in stirring unrest in eastern Ukraine during a telephone call Tuesday with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
"But the Russians and their so-called volunteers are continuing to ship arms and funds and personnel across the border. We see this. There is clear evidence of it," Kerry said.
The new European Union measures impose restrictions on Moscow's finance, defense and energy sectors so as to increase the cost to Russia of its continued intervention in Ukraine.
Notably, Russian state-owned banks will find access to European financial markets limited, meaning their costs could rise, with a knock-on effect on Russia's struggling economy.
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