Another update from our news desk with at least peripheral relevance to Ukraine:
Russia has announced it will suspend its participation in the Joint Consultative Group (JCG) on the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe as of March 11.
Russia's Foreign Ministry posted a statement on its website on March 10 citing Aleksandr Mazu, the head of the Russian delegation to talks in Vienna about military security and arms control.
Mazur said Russia's participation in the advisory group was "meaningless from a political and practical point of view and an unjustifiable waste from a financial-economic [point of view]."
The statement noted Russia already suspended its participation the Treaty on Conventional Military Forces in Europe (CFE) in 2007 saying NATO's expansion plans made it impossible to realize the terms of the treaty.
The statement said that with the decision to suspend its role in the JCG "the suspension of the CFE treaty announced by Russia in 2007 becomes complete."
It added that the move "does not signify its refusal from further dialogue over conventional arms in Europe" and Moscow would rejoin discussions "if and when our partners are ripe for it."
Mazur said Belarus would represent Russia's interests in the JCG at future meetings.
Here's an update from our news desk:
The United States says Russia has transferred more weapons to separatists in recent days despite an ongoing cease-fire.
"We can confirm new transfers of Russian tanks, armored vehicles, heavy artillery, and rocket equipment over the border to the separatists in eastern Ukraine," said Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Victoria Nuland at a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on March 10.
Moscow has continually denied sending weapons and troops to the pro-Russian separatists.
Nuland said that the United States had begun initial conversations with European allies on more sanctions should Russia fail to implement the cease-fire or take more land.
The cease-fire that took effect on February 15 does not give Ukraine control over its border until a decentralization and reform process becomes law.