‘We are already at war,’ Ukrainian PM tells FRANCE 24

In an interview with FRANCE 24 on Wednesday, Ukraine’s Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk discussed granting more autonomy to east Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s fight “against the Western world” and said that Ukraine is “already at war”.

Responding to criticisms that the ceasefire called for by the “Minsk II” agreement signed in February has been repeatedly violated by both sides, Yatseniuk said Ukraine is “eager” to hold up its end of the deal.

“But too much, if not everything, depends on Putin – whether he wants peace and stability,” Yatseniuk said.

Ukraine conflict: Russian soldiers seen with ‘up to 100’ military vehicles in Ukrainian villages

A convoy of “up to 100” tanks, armoured vehicles and rocket launchers was seen travelling on a road toward Telmanove, a town about 80 kilometres south of rebel stronghold Donetsk and 20 kilometres from the Russian border, Ukraine’s army said in a statement.

The army did not give details about the personnel on board the vehicles or when the column was thought to have entered Ukraine.

A military source said the convoy had come from Russia.

Russia cuts off gas to Ukraine as Kiev orders border secured

(Reuters) – Russia cut off gas to Ukraine on Monday in a dispute over unpaid bills that could disrupt supplies to the rest of Europe and set back hopes for peace between the former Soviet neighbours.

After the weekend loss of 49 troops when pro-Russian rebels shot down a military transport plane, Ukraine’s new president ordered his forces to retake full control of their border with Russia – saying this could then pave the way for negotiations.

Ukraine crisis: Russia’s referendum on Crimea secession illegal, Germany says

Germany’s Angela Merkel delivered a rebuke to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday, telling him that a planned Moscow-backed referendum on whether Crimea should join Russia was illegal and violated Ukraine’s constitution.

Putin defended breakaway moves by pro-Russian leaders in Crimea, where Russian forces tightened their grip on the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula by seizing another border post and a military airfield.