Pentagon chief says new action needed on Russia over Ukraine

ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT (Reuters) - The United States needs to take new steps to respond to the Ukraine conflict because economic sanctions and other Western actions have failed to get Russian President Vladimir Putin to reverse course, Defence Secretary Ash Carter said on Friday.

Carter, speaking after conferring with U.S. officials in Europe, said the Pentagon was watching the Ukraine situation very closely and was concerned about "further things happening" after the worst upsurge in fighting in months.