Another item from our news desk:
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says new sanctions against Russia are "teed up" should the crisis in eastern Ukraine worsen.
Kerry said at a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing in Washington on February 25 that "to date, neither Russia nor the [separatist] forces it is supporting have come close to complying with their commitments."
He added that if "failure continues" there would be further consequences "that would place added strains on Russia's weakened economy."
The words were part of a string of stronger rhetoric towards Russia from Obama administration officials in recent days.
Asked by the PBS broadcaster if she took Russian President Vladimir Putin at his word that he wants peace in Ukraine, U.S. national security adviser Susan Rice responded, "How dumb do I look?"
Moscow has repeatedly denied that it has sent troops or weapons into Ukraine in a conflict has killed more than 5,600 people.
(AFP, Reuters)
Meanwhile, in Kyiv (from RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service):
Groups ranging from right-wing nationalists to football hooligans marched in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on February 25 to protest against government policies.
Several hundred people, some in military uniforms, marched through the streets as police and members of the National Guard stood along the road.
National Guard members reportedly searched some of the protesters for weapons before allowing the march to proceed.
Earlier in the day, a group of some 400 people demonstrated outside the National Bank and called for the resignation of its governor, Valeriya Gontareva, and her deputy, Oleksandr Pinchuk.
Prosecutors are investigating possible abuse of office by some officials at the National Bank but have not named Gontareva or Pinchuk as suspects.
There was also a strike at the Kyiv's Borispol Airport where demonstrators recently demanded that fired employees be rehired.
(With reporting by TASS and Interfax)