18:22
20.6.2014
BREAKING: Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says that a weeklong unilateral cease-fire by Ukrainian forces will begin on June 20.
The Ukrainian Interior Ministry said earlier that Poroshenko will sign a decree announcing a temporary cease-fire soon.
In a statement posted on its website June 20, the Interior Ministry said under the cease-fire "terrorists can lay down their arms and those who will not do this will be killed."
Poroshenko visited a National Guard counterterrorism center on June 20.
He had been expected earlier to announce a 14-point peace plan.
According to an unofficial copy published by the media, the plan calls for the creation of a 10-kilometer buffer zone on the border with Russia.
The Ukrainian Interior Ministry said earlier that Poroshenko will sign a decree announcing a temporary cease-fire soon.
In a statement posted on its website June 20, the Interior Ministry said under the cease-fire "terrorists can lay down their arms and those who will not do this will be killed."
Poroshenko visited a National Guard counterterrorism center on June 20.
He had been expected earlier to announce a 14-point peace plan.
According to an unofficial copy published by the media, the plan calls for the creation of a 10-kilometer buffer zone on the border with Russia.
18:20
20.6.2014
From our Washington bureau:
A U.S. official says Washington has information that Russia is preparing to deploy “additional” tanks to separatists in eastern Ukraine currently battling the central government.
"We have information that additional tanks departed from a deployment site in southwest Russia yesterday," a senior administration official told reporters in a June 20 conference call on condition of anonymity.
Ukrainian officials on June 20 briefed EU and G7 diplomats about additional military hardware that Kyiv claims Russia is providing to the separatists, the official said.
Some of the equipment appears to be materiel currently used by the Ukrainian military but not by the Russian military, which could allow separatists to falsely claim that they recovered the hardware on the battlefield and not from Russia, the official added.
"We have information that additional tanks departed from a deployment site in southwest Russia yesterday," a senior administration official told reporters in a June 20 conference call on condition of anonymity.
Ukrainian officials on June 20 briefed EU and G7 diplomats about additional military hardware that Kyiv claims Russia is providing to the separatists, the official said.
Some of the equipment appears to be materiel currently used by the Ukrainian military but not by the Russian military, which could allow separatists to falsely claim that they recovered the hardware on the battlefield and not from Russia, the official added.
16:41
20.6.2014
And here's the list:
16:40
20.6.2014
On the sanctions front, the United States has expanded the list to seven pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine, the Treasury Department announced today.
The individuals are Valery Bolotov, the self-proclaimed leader of the "Luhansk People's Republic"; Igor Girkin (aka Strelkov), who commands the Donbas People's Militia; Valery Kaurov, leader of the Union of Orthodox Citizens of Ukraine; Sergei Menyailo, the acting governor of Sevastopol; Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, the self-proclaimed mayor of the city of Slovyansk; Andrey Purgin, a leader in the self-declared "Donetsk People's Republic"; and Denis Pushilin, the self-declared chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the "Donetsk People's Republic."
The individuals are Valery Bolotov, the self-proclaimed leader of the "Luhansk People's Republic"; Igor Girkin (aka Strelkov), who commands the Donbas People's Militia; Valery Kaurov, leader of the Union of Orthodox Citizens of Ukraine; Sergei Menyailo, the acting governor of Sevastopol; Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, the self-proclaimed mayor of the city of Slovyansk; Andrey Purgin, a leader in the self-declared "Donetsk People's Republic"; and Denis Pushilin, the self-declared chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the "Donetsk People's Republic."
16:08
20.6.2014
15:22
20.6.2014
Yesterday NATO accused Russia of once again building up troops on the border. Reuters is reporting that the Kremlin is denying the charges:
The Kremlin on Friday denied a statement by NATO suggesting Russia was building up troops on the frontier with Ukraine but said Moscow had brought in more border guards because of security concerns.
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Thursday that at least a few thousand more Russian troops were now at the frontier, and called it a regrettable step backwards following an earlier withdrawal from the border.
"There has been no build-up," Yuri Ushakov, President Vladimir Putin's foreign policy adviser, told reporters.
He said Russia was concerned about security at the border and added: "This means just the border guards are getting a few reinforcements, and troops have been withdrawn."
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Thursday that at least a few thousand more Russian troops were now at the frontier, and called it a regrettable step backwards following an earlier withdrawal from the border.
"There has been no build-up," Yuri Ushakov, President Vladimir Putin's foreign policy adviser, told reporters.
He said Russia was concerned about security at the border and added: "This means just the border guards are getting a few reinforcements, and troops have been withdrawn."
15:20
20.6.2014
13:33
20.6.2014
On @lifenews_ru, batty MP Elena Mizulina declares Ukraine "accounts for 70% of child porn". HT @buu3a pic.twitter.com/D3aRJLj2t6
— Oliver Carroll (@olliecarroll) June 18, 2014
13:21
20.6.2014
Spent time @ Army SOS in Kiev, grassroots initiative providing Ukr soldiers w basic eqipmt. Generals r still sending units 2 front w/o armor
— Oliver Carroll (@olliecarroll) June 20, 2014
I saw them take a dozen calls pleading for assistance. They say their main problem not money or ppl willing 2 help, but govt bureaucracy.
— Oliver Carroll (@olliecarroll) June 20, 2014
400 flak helmets being held up by Ukrainian customs, say Army SOS. (!)
— Oliver Carroll (@olliecarroll) June 20, 2014
12:33
20.6.2014
Officials say Poltava pipeline explosion likely sabotage. Why? Gazprom set to bid on a part of Nord Stream on July 15 http://t.co/6rtXHrwFXM
— Isaac Webb (@isaacdwebb) June 20, 2014