We’re going to put sanctions,” the president said, even before a deadline he had given Russia this week to engage in cease-fire negotiations had passed.

His tighter deadline to reach peace with Ukraine and his threat against Russia’s energy customers contrast with a lighter approach to Russia elsewhere.

The Kremlin said on Wednesday it continues to monitor statements by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding sanctions against Moscow, but that Russia had acquired immunity to such measures thanks to long experience.

Russia said on Thursday it had captured the town of Chasiv Yar in eastern Ukraine after nearly 16 months of fighting, opening the way for potential further advances. Russia's Defence Ministry said in a brief statement its forces had "liberated" the town.

A powerful earthquake struck Wednesday off Russia’s Far East coast, flooding a fishing port with waves from a tsunami, cutting power to a few areas and sending some panicked residents fleeing buildings but causing only a few injuries.

Drone footage shows the aftermath of the waves after they hit Severo-Kurilsk, a Russian town in the country's Kamchatka Peninsula, north of Japan. Tsunami waves also reached Hawaii, where an evacuation order was lifted after a tsunami warning was downgraded to an advisory, and in Alaska, Washington, California, and the West Coast overnight.

A massive magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off Russia's Pacific coast, sparking tsunami warnings and evacuations of coastal areas in Hawaii and alerts along the U.S. West Coast. In Russia, a camera captured the eruption of the Klyuchevskaya Sopka volcano -- the highest mountain in the region -- sending hot lava down its western slope.

The year’s strongest earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, triggering tsunami warnings and advisories in Hawaii, California, Oregon and Washington.