Τhe Guardian: Russia defends Minsk ceasefire deal while France warns of further sanctions

  

Russia is concerned that those outside Ukraine and in Kiev want a peace deal in the east of the country to fail, foreign minister Sergei Lavrov says on Wednesday. The French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, says Moscow willl face more EU sanctions if pro-Russia rebels attack Ukraine's government-held port of Mariupol, which he points out could connect rebel-held territory with Crimea