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)
Here's a Ukraine-related item from RFE/RL's bureau in Washington:
WASHINGTON -- Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili says he is meeting with U.S. lawmakers and officials in Washington to discuss "increasing legislative pressure" to provide weapons to Ukraine.
Saakashvili wrote in a February 25 post on his Facebook page that "never have so many [U.S.] lawmakers agreed to meet with me, even when I was president: 34 meetings in three days."
Many prominent members of the U.S. Congress have advocated providing arms to the Ukrainian government in its standoff with pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine that Washington accuses Moscow of backing.
Saakashvili left Georgia after his presidency ended in November 2013 and is currently serving as an adviser to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
Georgia has sought to have Ukraine extradite Saakashvili to face abuse of authority and other charges.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on February 21 that U.S. President Barack Obama would examine the possibility of arming Ukrainian forces to fight the rebels.