Russian President Vladimir Putin’s former bodyguard, who recently has been appointed regional governor, said he once confronted a bear outside Putin’s residence.

Moscow has spent more than 53 billion rubles (€920m) supplying a separatist rebellion in east Ukraine and at least 220 Russian soldiers have been killed there, a report by Russian opposition activists said.

For the rebel fighters who seized control of the strategic town Ukraine of Debaltseve, it was a day of jubilation and bragging of victory.

A number of artillery attacks have hit areas near the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, as the deadline for a ceasefire creeps closer, officials said.

Outgoing US defence secretary Chuck Hagel has said he is worried about a potential division within Nato as countries in the north want to focus on the growing threat from Russia, while other alliance members in the south are more worried about the influx of foreign fighters from northern Africa.

Indiscriminate rocket fire has hit a market, schools, homes and shops in the eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol, killing at least 30 people, authorities said.

A crowded open-air market and nearby homes in Ukraine’s coastal city of Mariupol came under rocket fire today, killing at least 16 people, city authorities said.

Ousted Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovich has been put on the international wanted list on Ukrainian charges of embezzlement and financial wrong-doing.

Vladimir Putin’s chief political foe has been convicted along with his brother in a fraud case widely seen as retribution by the Kremlin, setting off one of Russia’s boldest anti-government demonstrations in years.

Talks aimed at reaching a stable ceasefire in Ukraine between its government forces and pro-Russian armed groups ended after more than five hours.

Russia has dismissed new US sanctions as useless and underscored its historic right to the Crimean peninsula.

Russia has dismissed new US sanctions as useless and underscored its historic right to the Crimean peninsula.

European Union leaders will create a strategic investment fund that could generate up to €315bn in private and public-sector money to upgrade infrastructure, jump-start sluggish economies and ignite job growth.

European Union (EU) leaders met today to seek solutions to two major challenges - how to jump-start sluggish economic growth at home and how to deal long-term with Russia.

Russian president Vladimir Putin has defended the Kremlin’s aggressive foreign policy, saying the actions are necessary for his country’s survival.

President Vladimir Putin blamed the West for worsening relations with Russia since the Ukraine crisis and said Moscow would not allow itself to become internationally isolated behind another ‘Iron Curtain’.

Two pro-European parties in Ukraine running on a platform to enact tough reforms have taken the lead in the Ukrainian parliamentary election.

Ukrainians overwhelming voted in several pro-Western political parties yesterday in a landmark parliamentary election, another nudge in the former Soviet nation’s drift away from Russia.

Ukrainians have overwhelming voted in several pro-Western parties in a landmark parliamentary election today, another nudge in the former Soviet nation’s drift away from Russia.

The president of Ukraine has asked the US to give his soldiers lethal military equipment in its battle against Russian-backed separatists.

Clashes broke out outside the main rebel-held city in eastern Ukraine, throwing the freshly forged ceasefire deal between government troops and Russian-backed separatists into further doubt.

Clashes have broken out outside the main rebel-held city in eastern Ukraine, throwing the freshly forged ceasefire agreement between government troops and Russian-backed separatists into further doubt.

Witnesses in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol reported sustained explosions outside the city last night, and a volunteer battalion of Ukrainian fighters says Grad rockets were fired at its positions.

Ukraine and the Russian-backed rebels have signed a ceasefire deal that starts this afternoon, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) confirmed.

Shelling resounded on the outskirts of a key Ukrainian port as Russian-backed rebels pressed their south-east offensive, just hours ahead of talks that are widely hoped to bring a ceasefire.

Russia’s foreign minister has warned that Ukraine’s Nato ambitions are threatening to derail peace talks in eastern Ukraine.

A border guard vessel has been attacked by land-based forces, Ukraine said, hours after Russian president Vladimir Putin called for immediate talks on a political solution to the crisis in the east of the country.

Ukrainian forces said that one of their fighter jets has been shot down by a Russian missile in combat against Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Several European Union (EU) foreign ministers today accused Russia of invading eastern Ukraine and said Moscow should be punished with more sanctions.

Hundreds of trucks from a bitterly disputed Russian aid convoy to rebel-held eastern Ukraine rolled back across the border into Russia today.

Some of the trucks in a Russian aid convoy which entered Ukraine in a move denounced by Kiev as an invasion are reported to be returning to Russia.

Russia has banned most food imports from the West in retaliation for sanctions over Ukraine.

President Vladimir Putin has ordered government agencies to restrict imports of food and agricultural products from the countries that have imposed sanctions against Russia over the conflict in Ukraine.

EU ambassadors have agreed to add 11 new names to the list of people sanctioned for participating in the pro-Russian insurgency in Ukraine’s east.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has signed up to a trade and economic pact with the European Union, saying it may be the “most important day” for his country since it became independent from the Soviet Union.

Ukraine’s incoming president spoke briefly with Russian president Vladimir Putin after world leaders gathered at D-Day commemoration ceremonies in Normandy.

In another devastating blow to Ukraine’s armed forces, rebels shot down a troop helicopter, killing at least 12 soldiers.

Sustained gunfire was heard throughout the night near the eastern Ukrainian city of Slovyansk, the stronghold of pro-Russia fighters, ahead of a second round of European-brokered talks today aimed at resolving the crisis.

Some 90% of voters in a key industrial region in eastern Ukraine have come out in favour of sovereignty, pro-Russian insurgents said.

Some 90% of voters in a key industrial region in eastern Ukraine have come out in favour of sovereignty, pro-Russian insurgents said.

Germany is pushing for a second round of diplomatic talks in Geneva in an effort to halt the violence in Ukraine.

Pro-Russian insurgents dug in across eastern Ukraine, fortifying their positions around seized buildings and erecting fresh barricades even as Ukrainian tanks took up positions outside one eastern city now controlled by armed men.