G7 To Intensify Russian Sanctions

A G7 statement gave no detail of the sanctions , but U.S. officials said they could announce measures by Monday , the West accuses Russia of leading a secession rebllion in ukraine's East , months after it annexed Crimea , Moscow denies the allegations

Meanwhile , negotiators are trying to secure the release of international observers seized by Pro Russian gunmen , forces in the city of Sloviansk are still holding the eight European military observers and several Ukrainian army personnel who they seized on Friday and accuse of espionage , the observers were taking part in a mission linked to the Organisation for Security and Co operation in Europe (OSCE)

The U.S. accused Russian jets of violating Ukrainian airspace on Friday in a further sign of escalation

A group which includes the U.S. , U.K. , Germany ,Japan , France ,Canada ,and Italy condemined Russia's "increasingly concerting rhetoric and ongoing threatning military manouvores"

Given the urgency of securing the opportunity for a successful and peaceful democratic vote next month in Ukraine's Presidential elections , we have committed to act urgently to intensify targeted sanctions and measures to increase the costs of Russia's actions , the U.S. and E.U. has already frozen assets and put travel bans in place which target a number of Russians and firms accused of playing a part in the annexation of Crimea

On Friday , Ukraine's interior ministry said armed separatists had seized OSCE representatives , who were believed to be military observers from Germany , Denmark , Poland ,Sweden , and the Czech Republic , Pro Russian leaders in Sloviansk confirmed the bus had been stopped near the town of Sloviansk and said they were checking the identities of those on board

Russia's OSCE envoy Andrei Kelin promised to take "all possible steps" to free the representatives , according to Russian media reports