LATEST: NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says cease-fire in eastern Ukraine "must be respected."
The EU could extend its Russia sanctions through December:
The European Union is considering keeping its economic sanctions against Russia in place though December in hopes of bolstering implementation of a peace deal for eastern Ukraine.
EU sanctions targeting the Russian energy and financial services sectors were agreed in June and July 2014 and will be up for renewal one year after they entered into force.
The sanctions, imposed over Russia's annexation of Crimea and support for separatists fighting goverment forces in eastern Ukraine, will expire without a unanimous decision to extend them.
Several diplomats from EU member states, speaking on condition of anonymity, told RFE/RL that EU heads of state might decide to extend the measures through December when they meet for a summit in Brussels on March 19.
They said a major reason is to synchronize the sanctions with a peace deal brokered on February 12 in Minsk by the leaders of Germany and France, under which Ukraine is to regain control of its border with Russia in the separatist-held areas by the end of the year under certain conditions.
Some diplomats said key EU member Germany favors prolongation but has concerns it could prompt Russia to renege on implementation.
Russia's international banking isolation seems a bit less likely now:
IMF looks set to approve fresh Ukraine bailout:
The board of the International Monetary Fund is widely expected to approve a fresh $17.5 billion loan program for Ukraine when it meets on March 11.
The Ukrainian economy -- forecast to contract by 5.5 percent in 2015 -- has suffered in the past year as government forces fight pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine and trade with Russia has almost ceased.
Last week, Ukrainian lawmakers passed austerity measures, including pension cuts and tax increases, intended to help secure the fresh IMF bailout package.
Kyiv hopes to receive up to $11 billion this year to boost its international reserves, which are at their lowest level in more than a decade.
President Petro Poroshenko this week called on the nation to "look truth in the eye" and stay united.
"As long as there is war there will be no investment in Ukraine, and people must be told the truth," he said in an interview on March 9. (AFP, The Wall Street Journal)