West threatens sanctions against Russia over Ukraine

Western powers are prepared “to go to the hilt” to isolate Russia for its military incursion into Ukraine that may lead to visa bans, asset freezes, trade and investment penalties, and a boycott of a Russian-hosted economic summit of global powers in June, US Secretary of State John Kerry has warned.

Mr Kerry said Russian President Vladimir Putin should respect the democratic process through which the Ukrainian people ousted their pro-Russian president and assembled a new government.