Seven Ukrainian Soldiers Killed in Worst Violence Since Cease-Fire
Russia blamed Kiev for the surge in violence and urged the West not to show its support with actions such as imposing new sanctions on Moscow. Russia has denied sending arms and troops to back the rebels and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the separatists were responding to attacks by Ukrainian government forces.
He urged the West not to whip up anti-Russia hysteria and said it would have been naive to believe the separatists would accept being shelled by government forces without responding.
Meanwhile, diplomats from Ukraine and its 28 NATO allies were due to meet Monday at Ukraine`s request on Monday to discuss the new flare-up in fighting.