War of words between Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels heats up

LONDON -- As Russia's economy continues to sink, the U.S. and Europe said Wednesday it could face even tougher economic sanctions for whipping up new violence in Ukraine.

The on-again, off-again war in eastern Ukraine is on again, and Ukrainian soldiers are bracing for another major assault by pro-Russian rebels after they were forced to retreat from Donetsk airport last week.

The war of words is on again, too.

On Monday, Russia's President Vladimir Putin described Ukraine's army as a foreign legion -- implying NATO soldiers had joined its ranks. Nonsense, said NATO.

In fact, it's Russia that has sent soldiers to fight with the rebels -- 9,000 of them, according to Ukraine's government, along with weapons including tanks and anti-aircraft systems so good the Ukrainian air force hasn't been able to fly over the war zone for months.

On the front line, pro-Russian rebels are now in control of Ukraine's industrial heartland. Analysts believe they also want the port of Mariupol to consolidate what they're calling their "republic."

Last Saturday morning, missiles rained down on a residential suburb of Mariupol, killing 30 civilians, many of them elderly people out shopping.

That morning, pro-Russian rebels announced their assault on Mariupol had begun -- then abruptly denied it as casualty figures started to climb and blamed the Ukrainian army for the attack.

What happens next depends on Putin, already hurting from sanctions and a drop in oil prices. He may decide escalating this vicious little war is too risky -- or just the opposite, that it will give him powerful leverage against NATO, Europe and the U.S.