In a statement obtained by RFE/RL Brussels correspondent Rikard Jozwiak, a spokesperson for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has raised questions about Russia's "respect...of its international obligations" and expressed concern over Ukrainian military pilot Savchenko's abduction and handover to Russia. Here's the full text:
"We are concerned by the transferral to the territory of the Russian Federation and subsequent imprisonment of Ukrainian military pilot Nadiya Savchenko, following her kidnapping by militants in Eastern Ukraine.
This raises questions about the respect by the Russian Federation of its international obligations. We call on the Russian Federation to abide by its obligations as a Members State of the Council of Europe and party of the European Convention on Human Rights. In that context, we welcome that Ukraine's Consul in the Russian Federation has been able to meet with her."
Here's our latest story on Savchenko's plight.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk says the new U.S. and EU sanctions are evidence that Russian efforts to divide Washington and Brussels aren't working, Reuters says. He also demanded that Russia stop supplying weapons to rebels in eastern Ukraine, saying his country will not be taken.
Our Ukrainian Service says that with fighting continuing in Luhansk on the third and final day of mourning for the victims of attacks last week, authorities there are encouraging residents to stay home and avoid traveling in the city.
A number of videos made by Russian media are circulating of these two purported Ukrainian reservists after their capture by separatists.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev dismisses the latest sanctions as ineffectual in resolving the situation in Ukraine. Such moves are "evil" and have never cowed any country, he adds. Such punitive measures will amplify anti-U.S. sentiments, he claims, citing the experience of "the 1980s."
Via Reuters:
International payment systems Visa and MasterCard said the new U.S. sanctions did not affect their operations in Russia.