“Self-defence” battalions have set up checkpoints near Mariupol<\/strong><\/div>\nAppeal for monitors<\/strong><\/p>\nMr Poroshenko said that “over the past four days, we have managed to secure the release of 1,200 of our captives”, according to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency,<\/p>\n
The announcement came after a ceasefire was reached in Minsk, Belarus, in talks brokered by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).<\/p>\n
The negotiations involved former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, leaders of the pro-Russian rebels, and a Russian delegate.<\/p>\n
Mr Poroshenko appealed on Monday for the OSCE to send representatives to areas where the ceasefire has been broken.<\/p>\n
Also on Monday, EU officials called a fresh meeting on imposing new sanctions against Moscow for 18:00 (16:00 GMT).<\/p>\n
The meeting has been called at short notice after discussions failed to produce full agreement for the measures among all 28 member states, AFP reports.<\/p>\n
Earlier an EU spokeswoman had said new sanctions against Russia would be adopted shortly and take effect on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\n
EC’s Pia Ahrenkilde-Hansen: “The sanctions package can be extended or stopped, depending on developments in the field”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
But an EU spokeswoman said the sanctions would be “reversible”, depending on the situation in Ukraine.<\/p>\n
Major state-owned oil firms including Rosneft are on the new EU sanctions list, but gas is not affected, diplomats say. US sanctions already target Rosneft.<\/p>\n
Russia has warned that it could block international flights through its airspace if the EU goes ahead with new measures.<\/p>\n
![\"line\"](\"http:\/\/news.bbcimg.co.uk\/media\/images\/75306000\/jpg\/_75306515_line976.jpg\")
<\/div>\n
Analysis: Andrew Walker, BBC economics correspondent<\/p>\n
Rosneft calls itself the leader of the Russian petroleum industry. That makes it a very important player in the European Union’s energy market. About 90% of the crude oil used in the EU is imported and Russia is, by a large margin, the biggest supplier.<\/p>\n
The sanctions don’t appear to directly affect that relationship. They would prevent Rosneft raising money in European financial markets.<\/p>\n
But as crude oil is mainly transported by sea, if the trade were disrupted any losses from Russian suppliers could potentially be replaced. It would almost certainly be more expensive, but it could be done, up to a point.<\/p>\n
Gas is another story, which may explain why Gazprom’s main business is reported not to be on the new sanctions list. Russian gas is delivered to Europe by pipeline. There is a trade in gas transported by sea, but it would be very difficult to compensate for a major disruption of supplies from Russia.<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n
![\"Pipes](\"http:\/\/news.bbcimg.co.uk\/media\/images\/77458000\/jpg\/_77458447_c2a06511-ea32-4ded-817e-b8ad5c5f44e8.jpg\")
Russian gas exports will not be affected if new sanctions are put in place, diplomats say<\/strong><\/div>\nDiplomats say the new package will target Russian oil companies Rosneft and Transneft and the petroleum unit of state gas monopoly Gazprom.<\/p>\n
Their access to financial markets will be restricted – a serious matter for Rosneft, which last month\u00a0asked the Russian government for a $42bn (\u00a325.2bn) loan.<\/p>\n
The sanctions would also expand the\u00a0visa bans and asset freezes\u00a0on Russian officials and entities, including separatist leaders in Ukraine.<\/p>\n
Earlier Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev warned that Moscow would respond “asymmetrically” to further sanctions.<\/p>\n
A Russian airspace ban “could drive many struggling airlines into bankruptcy”, he told a Russian daily.<\/p>\n
–<\/p>\n
Source: BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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![\"Rebel](\"http:\/\/news.bbcimg.co.uk\/media\/images\/77456000\/jpg\/_77456329_dc1a179d-0011-4568-96e9-7fa2f411eaba.jpg\")
Rebel leader held a ceremony in Donetsk on Monday to honour its defence from the Nazis in World War Two<\/strong><\/div>\n![\"A](\"http:\/\/news.bbcimg.co.uk\/media\/images\/77456000\/jpg\/_77456331_92c42f27-aa8e-47f1-9adf-85ed6866bae8.jpg\")
The conflict has sparked a humanitarian crisis in parts of eastern Ukraine – here a man distributes food at a Red Cross centre in Mariupol<\/strong><\/div>\n![\"Soldiers](\"http:\/\/news.bbcimg.co.uk\/media\/images\/77456000\/jpg\/_77456333_79adf75c-294b-42bc-bdb8-958801d0e7b5.jpg\")
“Self-defence” battalions have set up checkpoints near Mariupol<\/strong><\/div>\n