TODAY: G7 leaders meet without Putin, are united against Russia; Putin evades questions of Russian involvement in Ukraine crisis; ‘foreign agent’ label to be placed on NGOs without their permission; Sechin calls for domestic limitations to energy rights; Gazprom may need recapitalisation; HSBC follows Lloyds out of Rosneft deal; Putin retort to Clinton; Kadyrov the ‘kind’.

G7 leaders in Brussels met without President Vladimir Putin yesterday, announcing that they are united in condemnation and prepared to impose further sanctions on Russia in retaliation for its ‘continuing violation’ of Ukraine’s sovereignty.  U.S. President Barack Obama accused Russia of using ‘dark tactics’ to maintain influence in the region.  But Putin was not snubbed entirely, as British, French and German leaders all arranged to meet him on the sidelines of talks later this week. (They can all ‘expect plenty of bravado,’ says Reuters.)  According to Newsweek, both the Russian and Ukrainian press reveals ‘plenty of evidence of military, political, and financial support by Russia for separatist groups’.  Speaking to the French media, Putin evaded questions about whether Russian troops were involved in the Ukraine crisis: ‘Proof?  Why don’t they show it?’  Water shortages in Crimea are one aspect of ‘huge logistical hurdles’ Russia faces in transferring the republic’s dependence away from Ukraine.