363 Ukrainian troops killed, battle rages near MH17 crash site

Russia fought back on Wednesday over new US and EU sanctions imposed on Moscow over Ukraine even as G7 leaders issued a joint statement on Wednesday warning Russia that it would face added economic sanctions if Kremlin does not change course on its Ukraine policy. Russia announced a ban on most fruit and vegetable imports from Poland and said it could extend it to the entire European Union, a move Warsaw called Kremlin retaliation for new Western sanctions over Ukraine. Moscow called the new EU and US sanctions ‘destructive and short-sighted’ and said they would lead to higher energy prices in Europe and damage cooperation with the US on international affairs. Meanwhile, Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said the separatists were digging in for battle near the Boeing 777 crash site. He said 363 Ukrainian troops had been killed and 1,434 wounded since Kiev’s ‘anti-terrorist’ operation began. Heavy fighting between government forces and pro-Russian rebels has been taking place near the site where Malaysian Airline Flight MH17 crashed on July 17, suspected to have shot down by the separatists killing all 298 passengers and crew aboard. Lysenko said the separatists were digging in for battle near the Boeing 777 crash site. Ukraine’s fragile economy is taking a battering of the several months-long battle that is now raging near the MH17 crash site. Parliament will consider austerity budget amendments today (July 31) that are key to receiving IMF support and to assign more financing for the government forces, report agencies.