LATEST on EU's new sanctions on Russia over actions in Ukraine:
The European Commission, the EU's executive, has drafted proposals for a new round of sanctions against Russia over its role in the Ukraine crisis.
Proposals outlined in a document obtained by RFE/RL on September 3 include adding Russian state-owned defense and oil companies to the state-owned banks already barred from EU capital markets, and increasing curbs on the export to Russia of sensitive technology and goods with dual civilian-military uses.
The commission has also suggested adding all people and institutions "dealing with" separatist groups in eastern Ukraine to a list of those targeted by travel bans and asset freezes.
Media reports said a suggestion in the document that the EU could consider action within the Group of Seven and beyond to suspend Russian participation in cultural and sports events, such as the 2018 soccer World Cup, did not receive wide support.
EU governments are expected to decide on the proposals on September 5. (Reuters, AP, and dpa)
Today's situation map by Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council does show Debaltseve being encircled and attacked, as reported earlier:
This just in from our News Desk:
Reuters news agency quotes a NATO military officer as saying Russia has several thousand combat troops and hundreds of tanks and armored vehicles inside Ukraine.
More from our news desk on the NATO assessment of the number of troops in Ukraine:
Reuters news agency quotes a NATO military officer as saying Russia has several thousand combat troops and hundreds of tanks and armored vehicles inside Ukraine.
NATO had previously said that "well over 1,000" Russian troops were operating inside Ukraine, and that there was clear evidence of direct Russian involvement in the conflict between separatists and government forces in eastern Ukraine.
Russia denies this.
The NATO officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters, "We are still seeing several thousand Russian combat troops on the ground inside Ukraine, equipped with hundreds of tanks and armoured vehicles, so (there is) no substantial change in the disposition of Russian forces inside Ukraine."
He also said that around 20,000 Russian troops remain close to the Ukrainian border.
He spoke on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Wales.