TODAY: Russia threatens Ukraine in wake of more fighting; Merkel and Putin meet in Brazil; Italy blocking sanctions? Putin ends Latin American tour celebrating various new deals; activist Novodvorskaya dies.

The Foreign Ministry responded to an incidence of shelling across the border from Ukraine into Russia – which led to the death of one Russian man – by warning that there may be ‘irreversible consequences’.  Combat reportedly has ‘intensified dramatically’ along the border over the past few days, with fighting underway on the outskirts of the Donetsk region, and also continuing in Luhansk.  Vladimir Putin and Angela Merkel met in Brazil to call for increased peace efforts in Ukraine, noting the situation’s ‘tendency toward degradation’.  They refrained from discussing the question of gas supplies to Europe.  The Sports Minister insists that the Ukraine crisis will not interfere with Russia’s preparations in advance of its hosting the next World Cup in 2018.  Is Italy the latest obstacle to tougher anti-Russia sanctions?