Freed Swedish military inspector (center) and Organization for Security and Cooperation (OSCE) members leave the regional administration building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk on late Sunday. OSCE negotiators trying to free eight of their inspectors held by rebels in the eastern Ukrainian town of Slavyansk escorted just one of the men out of the occupied town hall. AFP PHOTO
SLAVYANSK, Ukraine: The United States and Europe on Monday prepared to step up sanctions against Russia over the crisis in Ukraine, where pro-Kremlin rebels seized another town in the east and tensions simmered over the detention of international observers.