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G7 warns Russia of fresh sanctions over Ukraine
Leaders of the G7 nations warn Russia of further sanctions over its actions in Ukraine, as a Brussels summit gets under way
Leaders from the G7 group of industrialized nations have said they will consider further measures against Russia, if necessary, over the Ukraine crisis
A joint statement by the leaders of the G7 industrial nations condemned Moscow for its "continuing violation" of Ukraine's sovereignty.
The summit in Brussels is the first since Russia was expelled from the G7 following its annexation of Crimea in March.
Earlier in Poland, US President Barack Obama warned Moscow against what he called its "dark tactics" in Ukraine.
Obama is on a three-state European tour ending with the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in France on Friday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will also be at the ceremony.
Although President Putin is not attending the Brussels summit, he will hold face-to-face talks with some G7 leaders - not including President Obama - in Paris afterwards.
The US President condemned what he called Russia's "bullying" in Ukraine, prompting President Vladimir Putin to hit back at American "aggression," as diplomatic wrangling between the two countries escalated.
Obama met Ukraine's president-elect Petro Poroshenko in the Polish capital of Warsaw on Wednesday, and promised years of US support, then blasted Russia and vowed to protect former Soviet states and domains in NATO, in a speech marking Poland's 25 years of democracy.
"How can we allow the dark tactics of the 20th century to define this new century?" Obama asked.
In a clear reference to Russia's annexation of Crimea and its actions in wider Ukraine, Obama warned that "the days of empires and spheres of influence are over.
During his visit to Poland, Obama also proposed a $1bn fund to finance new US air, naval and troop rotations through Eastern Europe, launching his regional tour designed to bolster NATO resolve and capacity against Moscow.
Meanwhile, in eastern Ukraine, three government soldiers were injured in a massive all-night attack carried out by hundreds of pro-Russian fighters, authorities in Kiev said.
The assault on a position held by the Ukrainian National Guard in the Luhansk region began Tuesday evening and lasted 10 hours, the Interior Ministry said, adding that six rebels were also killed in the fighting.
The 300 rebels who took part in the attack were armed with automatic weapons, rocket launchers and mortars, and the Ukrainian forces fought "to the last bullet," according to the ministry.
