Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to a proposal from German Chancellor Angela Merkel to set up a contact group on Ukraine, the German government said. “President Putin accepted the German chancellor’s proposal to immediately establish a mission of inquiry as well as a contact group, possibly under the

The United States on March 2 said it will send its top diplomat to Kiev in a show of support and threatened economic sanctions against Russia but made clear it is not seriously considering military action over Ukraine. 

United States President Barack Obama has warned his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin against violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and asked him to pull the forces back to their bases in Crimea. In a 90-minute phone call, Obama expressed “deep concern” over Russia’s “violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity” and asked …