21:59
23.6.2014
We are now closing the live blog for today. Don't forget that you can keep up with all our ongoing Ukraine coverage here. Before we go, we'll leave you with this wrap-up of today's events from RFE/RL's news desk:
Pro-Russian separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine say they've agreed to observe a temporary cease-fire until June 27, ending 10 weeks of fighting against Ukrainian forces.
Aleksandr Borodai, the self-styled prime minister of the self-declared "Donetsk People's Republic," made the announcement today after peace talks with representatives from Moscow, Kyiv, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
The talks were chaired by former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma.
Borodai said separatists in the self-declared "Luhansk People's Republic" also agreed to a cease-fire until June 27.
He added that separatist officials would join more talks aimed at resolving Ukraine's crisis, which has pitted Ukrainian armed forces against pro-Russian separatist fighters.
The separatists previously rejected a unilateral weeklong truce declared on June 20 by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
The announcement seemed to affect the situation on the ground, with Ukrainian officials reporting an abrupt halt to insurgent attacks in eastern Ukraine.
Kuchma said that, if both sides observe the cease-fire, then "a normal peace process could start."
In Washington, U.S. President Barack Obama urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to support peace in Ukraine and said Moscow would face further "costs" if it did not take steps to reduce tensions in the country.
The White House said Obama made his comments to Putin via phone today, calling on him to halt the flow of "arms and materiel across the border" and Kremlin support for "militants and separatists."
Obama added that Russia will face additional sanctions if Washington does not see "concrete actions to de-escalate the situation."
Putin, for his part, was said to have emphasized to Obama the importance of direct talks between Ukrainian officials and the pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Earlier in the day, European Union foreign ministers repeated their threat of wider sanctions against Russia if it failed to support Poroshenko's peace plan.
The bloc has so far ordered visa bans and asset freezes for officials but refrained from imposing broader economic sanctions on Russia.
Ahead of an EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg today, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the EU will be able to agree further measures at a summit of EU leaders on June 27, if necessary.
He said Moscow must be in "no doubt" it faces further sanctions.
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt accused Russia of "conducting a propaganda war with full speed," adding that Moscow must face further sanctions unless it changes course.
Meanwhile, the European Council said it has finalized technical preparations ahead of the signing of an Association Agreement with Kyiv in Brussels on June 27.
Aleksandr Borodai, the self-styled prime minister of the self-declared "Donetsk People's Republic," made the announcement today after peace talks with representatives from Moscow, Kyiv, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
The talks were chaired by former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma.
Borodai said separatists in the self-declared "Luhansk People's Republic" also agreed to a cease-fire until June 27.
He added that separatist officials would join more talks aimed at resolving Ukraine's crisis, which has pitted Ukrainian armed forces against pro-Russian separatist fighters.
The separatists previously rejected a unilateral weeklong truce declared on June 20 by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
The announcement seemed to affect the situation on the ground, with Ukrainian officials reporting an abrupt halt to insurgent attacks in eastern Ukraine.
Kuchma said that, if both sides observe the cease-fire, then "a normal peace process could start."
In Washington, U.S. President Barack Obama urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to support peace in Ukraine and said Moscow would face further "costs" if it did not take steps to reduce tensions in the country.
The White House said Obama made his comments to Putin via phone today, calling on him to halt the flow of "arms and materiel across the border" and Kremlin support for "militants and separatists."
Obama added that Russia will face additional sanctions if Washington does not see "concrete actions to de-escalate the situation."
Putin, for his part, was said to have emphasized to Obama the importance of direct talks between Ukrainian officials and the pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Earlier in the day, European Union foreign ministers repeated their threat of wider sanctions against Russia if it failed to support Poroshenko's peace plan.
The bloc has so far ordered visa bans and asset freezes for officials but refrained from imposing broader economic sanctions on Russia.
Ahead of an EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg today, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the EU will be able to agree further measures at a summit of EU leaders on June 27, if necessary.
He said Moscow must be in "no doubt" it faces further sanctions.
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt accused Russia of "conducting a propaganda war with full speed," adding that Moscow must face further sanctions unless it changes course.
Meanwhile, the European Council said it has finalized technical preparations ahead of the signing of an Association Agreement with Kyiv in Brussels on June 27.
21:07
23.6.2014
Separatists hold their fire in #Ukraine’s east amid peace talks led by Kuchma in #Donetsk http://t.co/0wbbCLlCyD pic.twitter.com/ofNQTQS5Xh
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) June 23, 2014
20:22
23.6.2014
Russia's First Channel making a lot of the peace talks in Donetsk and President Putin's phone with Presdient Obama
— Daniel Sandford (@BBCDanielS) June 23, 2014
20:21
23.6.2014
Another update from RFE/RL's news desk:
U.S. President Barack Obama has urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to support peace in Ukraine and said Moscow would face further "costs" if it did not take steps to reduce tensions in the country.
The White House said Obama made his comments to Putin via phone today, calling on him to halt the flow of "arms and materiel across the border" and Kremlin support for "militants and separatists."
Obama added that Russia will face additonal sanctions if Washington does not see "concrete actions to de-escalate the situation."
Putin, for his part, was said to have emphasized to Obama the importance of direct talks between Ukrainian officials and the pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
An unilateral cease-fire declared by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko last week was agreed to earlier today by some pro-Russian separatist leaders after talks chaired by former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma.
The White House said Obama made his comments to Putin via phone today, calling on him to halt the flow of "arms and materiel across the border" and Kremlin support for "militants and separatists."
Obama added that Russia will face additonal sanctions if Washington does not see "concrete actions to de-escalate the situation."
Putin, for his part, was said to have emphasized to Obama the importance of direct talks between Ukrainian officials and the pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
An unilateral cease-fire declared by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko last week was agreed to earlier today by some pro-Russian separatist leaders after talks chaired by former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma.
20:20
23.6.2014
Strange people are conducting strange peace talks in Donetsk. Expect strange results, or none at all.
— Leonid Ragozin (@leonidragozin) June 23, 2014
20:19
23.6.2014
Seems not insignificant that Medvedchuk was there when the #Ukraine separatists agreed to Kiev's proposed ceasefire.
— Paul Sonne (@PaulSonne) June 23, 2014
19:41
23.6.2014
Our news desk has just issued this item on the separatist cease-fire:
Separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine say they've agreed to observe a temporary cease-fire until June 27.
Aleksandr Borodai, the self-styled prime minister of the self-declared "Donetsk People's Republic," made the announcement today after peace talks with representatives from Moscow, Kyiv, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
Borodai said separatists in the self-declared "Luhansk People's Republic" also agreed to a cease-fire until June 27.
He also said separatist officials would join more talks aimed at resolving Ukraine's crisis, which has pitted Ukrainian armed forces against pro-Russian separatist fighters.
The separatists previously rejected the unilateral weeklong truce declared on June 20 by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
Earlier on June 23, European Union foreign ministers repeated their threat of wider sanctions against Russia if it failed to support Poroshenko's peace plan.
Aleksandr Borodai, the self-styled prime minister of the self-declared "Donetsk People's Republic," made the announcement today after peace talks with representatives from Moscow, Kyiv, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
Borodai said separatists in the self-declared "Luhansk People's Republic" also agreed to a cease-fire until June 27.
He also said separatist officials would join more talks aimed at resolving Ukraine's crisis, which has pitted Ukrainian armed forces against pro-Russian separatist fighters.
The separatists previously rejected the unilateral weeklong truce declared on June 20 by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
Earlier on June 23, European Union foreign ministers repeated their threat of wider sanctions against Russia if it failed to support Poroshenko's peace plan.
19:14
23.6.2014
So, that last RT tweet has now been confirmed by the news wires:
Separatist leaders in two main areas of eastern Ukraine say they’ve agreed to observe a cease-fire until June 27. They also said they would engage in more talks aimed at helping to resolve the conflict between government forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
18:52
23.6.2014
#UKRAINE: Donetsk self-defense forces agree to ceasefire until 07:00 GMT Friday http://t.co/gAv8IMJKyN
— RT (@RT_com) June 23, 2014
18:33
23.6.2014
National Security Council: #Militants preparing attack on #Luhansk airport http://t.co/Mu6t7b58le #Ukraine
— Kyiv Post (@KyivPost) June 23, 2014