WASHINGTON, March 16 - The United States said on Monday it would be ready to "increase the costs" to Russia if it fails to comply with the terms of ceasefire agreements with Ukraine, suggesting potential further economic sanctions on Moscow, Reuters reported.

MINSK, March 14 - Ukraine's possible secession from the CIS is the sovereign right of this country, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said.

"Speaking of declarations of the possible secession of Ukraine from the CIS, this is definitely the sovereign right of each state. No one disputes it and no one is going to. But it is easy to slam the door shut in hot blood, especially as they seem to have a formal occasion: "You did not come to Kiev but we can do without you"," Belarusian First Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Mikhnevich said. His answer to a media question was published on the ministry website on Friday.

KIEV, March 16 - Ukraine's new leaders announced on Sunday a call-up to raise 20,000 men for a newly-created National Guard, accusing Russia of sending "touring" trouble-makers across the border to stir up separatism in the country, Reuters reported.

Keeping tension high as pro-Russian Crimean leaders staged a referendum for the peninsula to secede to Russia, pro-Western Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk pledged to bring to justice all those trying to destroy Ukrainian independence "under the cover of Russian troops.”

KIEV, March 16 - Ukraine has no intention of pulling its troops out of Crimea despite a rapid build-up of Russian troops in the region to a level of about 22,000 servicemen, the acting defense minister said in comments published on Sunday, Reuters reported.

KIEV, March 16 - Russian state media said Crimeans voted overwhelmingly to break with Ukraine and join Russia on Sunday, as Kiev accused Moscow of pouring forces into the peninsula and warned separatist leaders "the ground will burn under their feet,” Reuters reported.

WASHINGTON, March 16 - The United States warned Russia on Sunday that Western sanctions were imminent and Moscow would pay an increasing price for its military intervention in Ukraine as the White House rejected a referendum in the Crimea region that it was powerless to stop.

BRUSSELS, March 16 - The EU, in a strongly worded statement, urged Ukraine to make progress on reforms.

"We must continue to insist on the progress in major reforms in Ukraine, in particular, judicial, electoral, and constitutional reform.

KIEV, March 16 – Ukraine’s authorities on Wednesday allowed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko leave the country on March 23 for a meeting with European leaders in Brussels.

MINSK, March 16 - Russia on Wednesday threatened to erect prohibitive trade barriers against Ukrainian goods if Kiev makes progress in talks and signs a free trade accord with the European Union.

KIEV, March 15 - President Viktor Yanukovych has instructed the government to take under its special control the situation with fuel prices and flour supply to regions, the presidential press service reported.