Ukraine: EU foreign ministers expand Russian sanctions list

World Today

European defense ministers met in Luxembourg Tuesday to discuss the crisis in Ukraine. The meeting comes a day after EU foreign ministers adopted more sanctions against Russia.

CCTV’s Jack Barton reports from Brussels with more on the talks.

Ukraine: EU expands Russian sanctions list

European defense ministers met in Luxembourg Tuesday to discuss the crisis in Ukraine. The meeting comes a day after EU foreign ministers adopted more sanctions against Russia. CCTV's Jack Barton reports from Brussels with more on the talks.

The Ukranian government sent its forces east Tuesday to take back government offices seized by pro-Russian protesters. The operation erupted in violence at Kramatorsk airport, just south of the city of Slavyansk. Both sides reported gunfire, but there is conflicting information on the number of casualties.

The military build-up follows the announcement by Ukraine’s acting president, Oleksandr Turchynov of an “anti-terrorist operation” to root out the separatists, but it was unclear how that measure differed from the one announced on Monday, which resulted in no visible action. Pro-Russian insurgents, many of them armed, continue to occupy government, police and other administrative buildings in at least nine cities in the country’s Russian-speaking east of the country, demanding broader autonomy and closer ties with Russia. The central government has so far been unable to rein in the insurgents, and many local security forces have switched to their side. Russia has strongly warned Kiev against using force against pro-Russian protesters, saying such a move could prompt Moscow to walk out of Thursday’s international conference on Ukraine  in Geneva. CCTV’s Michal Bardavid has more details from Kiev.

Ukraine Launches "Anti-Terrorist" Operation to Seize Government Buildings

The Ukranian government sent its forces east Tuesday to take back government offices seized by pro-Russian protesters. The operation erupted in violence at Kramatorsk airport, just south of the city of Slavyansk. CCTV's Michal Bardavid has more details from Kiev.