U.S. Steps Up Sanctions On Separatists

The sanctions include asset freezes against seven Pro Russian leaders

Western leaders have threatened additional sanctions against Russia , who they accuse of stoking tension in Ukraine , Moscow denies their claim

 Both the separatists and Russia have dismissed a unilateral ceasefire called by Ukrainian leader Petro Poroshenko , the first step of his peace plan

Overnight , the rebels carried out several attacks on Ukrainian troops , injuring a number of them , reports in Ukrainian media suggest

In a separate development , President Vladimir Putin ordered forces  in Russia's central military district to be put on full combat alert for a week, tthe drill does not affect troops near the border with Ukraine , Mr. Putin has ordered several such alerts to test combat readiness in recent months

The U.S. and European Union leaders have previously imposed sanctions after Russia annexed the Ukrainian region of Crimea in March

On Friday , the U.S. treasury department said it had blacklisted seven rebel leaders , including self proclaimed Mayors, Goveners and Commanders in chief of cities under seige by Ukrainian forces , their assets in the U.S. will be frozen and U.S. firms will be banned from dealing with them

On Friday , Mr. Poroshenko declared aa week long ceasefire to give rebels time to disarm , it became effective from 22:00 local time , (19:000 GMT), the President also unveiled proposals for the peace plan involving decentralising power , holding early elections , and creating a six mile (10 km) buufffer zone on the Ukrainian- Russsian border

Asenior rebel commander told Ukrainian news agencies , the insurgents would not disarm until government troops had left the East

The Kremlin disnmissed the ttruce ,, saying it was not an invatation to peace  and negotiations but ann  ultimatum