Ukraine: West To 'Extend Sanctions On Russia'

Britain, the US, France, Germany and Italy have indicated that they will extend sanctions on Russia because its actions over Ukraine.

David Cameron, Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi released a joint statement on Friday, calling on Russia to act.

It's unclear whether weapons destroyed the aircraft or whether it crashed

A Downing Street spokesman said: "While they continued to hold open the door to a diplomatic resolution of this crisis … the five leaders agreed that in the light of Russia's refusal to support the process, an extension of the current targeted sanctions would need to be implemented."

The joint statement said: "Russia, conforming to the commitments made at Geneva, should contribute to the de-escalation, abstaining from provocative statements or acts of intimidation."

It came after pro-Russia separatists continued their armed occupation of public buildings in several towns in eastern Ukraine.

A pro-Russian separatist fills sand bags at a checkpoint in Slavyansk

Last week, the US, the EU, Russia and Ukraine reached an accord under which the separatists would disarm and cease their occupation.

The western powers blame Russia for the failure of the separatists, who are pro-Kremlin, to abide by the agreement.

Ukraine has been carrying out an operation aimed at removing the armed separatists, but has been unwilling to use major force.

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Russia has warned Ukraine not to attack its own citizens and has been massing forces on its borders.

Earlier, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk accused Russia of wanting to start "a third world war".

Mr Yatseniuk said that Russia wanted to occupy Ukraine, creating a conflict that would spread to the rest of Europe.

Journalist Simon Ostrovsky has spoken of his capture

Russia responded to Mr Yatsenyuk's words by accusing the West of plotting to control Ukraine.

Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said: "The West wants - and this is how it all began - to seize control of Ukraine because of their own political ambitions, not in the interests of the Ukrainian people."

On the ground, Ukrainian special forces launched a second phase of their "anti-terrorism" operation, blockading the rebel-held city of Slavyansk.

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Reports that pro-Russian snipers had shot at a Ukranian military helicopter in the eastern town of Kramatorsk have been treated cautiously.

According to officials in Kiev, the helicopter exploded at a military base after being hit by a rocket-propelled grenade.

Sky's foreign affairs editor, Sam Kiley, in Ukraine, said that the "bellicose" rhetoric between Russia and Ukraine was escalating more quickly than action on the ground.

Meanwhile, US journalist Simon Ostrovsky, who was captured and released by pro-Russian militants, says he believes he was used as a "bargaining chip" with Kiev after his abduction.

A checkpoint apparently set on fire by pro-Russian separatists

Writing for Vice magazine, he said: "After spending hours alone on the floor of a damp cell … I was led into a room where I was accused of working for the CIA, FBI, and Right Sector, the Ukrainian ultra-nationalist group."

UN chief Ban Ki-moon has warned the crisis is threatening to "spin out of control" and urged all sides to "refrain from violence".

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