UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 26 - The deadly rocket attacks on the government-held port city of Mariupol in eastern Ukraine last weekend were a war crime because they intentionally targeted civilians, a senior U.N. official said on Monday, Reuters reported.

BRUSSELS, Jan 26 - NATO blamed Russian-backed separatists on Monday for a sharp escalation of violence in eastern Ukraine and called on Moscow to stop destabilizing Ukraine, Reuters reported.

KIEV, Jan. 26 - Russian-backed rebels advanced to encircle a Ukrainian army garrison town on Monday in a new offensive that has again unleashed all-out war after a five-month ceasefire and brought threats of new Western sanctions against Moscow, Reuters reported.

BERLIN, Jan. 23 – The German authorities see no reason to introduce sanctions against the Ukrainian leadership, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said.

MOSCOW, Jan. 24 - Russia plans to provide $5 billion of the $15 billion it intends to lend to Ukraine through its special drawing rights at the IMF and the other $10 billion from the National Welfare Fund, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said.

KIEV, Jan. 25 - Ukrainian opposition leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk said protests will continue following his rejection of President Viktor Yanukovych's offer to appoint him prime minister.

KIEV, Jan. 26 - Hundreds of people were injured and detained in Zaporizhia and Dnipropetrovsk on Sunday when riot police moved to attack protesters demanding resignation of the local governments.

KIEV, Jan. 26 - Protesters seized the Justice Ministry’s building Sunday in Kiev, triggering an angry reaction from the minister who has threatened to seek a state of emergency unless the premises are vacated.

KIEV, Jan. 26 – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is an important partner for Ukraine in the development of strategic investment projects, and Ukraine appreciates its partnership with the bank, President Viktor Yanukovych said during a meeting with EBRD President Thomas Mirow.

KIEV, Jan. 26 – Front for Change Party leader and MP Arseniy Yatseniuk announced he will represent Ukraine’s opposition at the World Economic Forum in Davos.