Meanwhile, in Berlin, Mikhail Gorbachev has been talking about the fallout of the Ukraine crisis:
Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev says tensions between Russia and the West over the Ukraine crisis have put the world "on the brink of a new Cold War."
Gorbachev spoke on November 8 at an event in the German capital marking the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Gorbachev accused the West -- particularly the United States -- of giving in to "triumphalism" after the collapse of the communist bloc.
He said that "instead of becoming a leader of change in a global world, Europe has turned into an arena of political upheaval, of competition for spheres of influence, and finally of military conflict. The consequence inevitably is Europe weakening."
Gorbachev called for trust to be built through dialogue with Moscow, and suggested that the United States and European Union should lift sanctions against Russian officials.
(AP, dpa)
Here is a short item from our news desk on the military convoys sighted in eastern Ukraine today:
More than 80 unmarked military vehicles were seen moving through parts of eastern Ukraine held by pro-Russian separatists on November 8, the Associated Press (AP) news agency reports.
AP reporters took photos and video of three columns of armed vehicles and other military hardware: one near the city of Donetsk and two near Snizhne.
Most of the vehicles were transport trucks but there was at least one armored personnel carrier.
The AP said several of the trucks were carrying troops.
Ukrainian military officials reported this week that separatist forces received large amounts of weaponry and troops from Russia, including 32 tanks and howitzer artillery pieces crossing into Ukraine from Russia on November 6.
Russia has denied providing any weapons or troops to the separatists.
Ukraine said on November 8 that three soldiers were killed and 15 wounded in fighting in the last 24 hours.
(AP, Reuters)