Ukrainian authorities have decided to launch a lawsuit against Russian energy giant company Gazprom, acting Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk told the press on Monday.

US Vice President Joe Biden called on Russia to refrain from further "provocative behavior" and use its leverage to convince pro-Russian protesters in eastern Ukraine to evacuate the buildings they have seized.

The US is ready to go ahead with the third round of sanctions to demonstrate the ‘costs’ and push for de-escalation, State Department spokesperson Jennifer Psaki told the editor-in-chief of the Echo of Moscow radio station.

Germany expects China to play a bigger role in the resolution of the Ukrainian crisis by influencing Russia.

Mexico seeks cooperation with Russia in space, the head of the national space agency told the Itar-TASS news agency.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has canceled his June visit to St Petersburg in a move that could signal Israel’s change of stance on Crimea.

Russia has warned it would walk out of the Geneva talks on Ukraine if Kiev uses force against protesters in eastern Ukraine.

Canada has slapped sanctions against Crimean two officials and the local oil and gas company in a move aimed at further isolating Russia economically and politically.

US has warned Russia of further sanctions if Moscow does not “take steps to de-escalate in eastern Ukraine”.

Business community in the West is not interested in escalation of tensions with Russia.