RFE's Yevhen Solonyna reports that the Verkhovna Rada has canceled its summer recess after a majority of lawmakers voted to remain in session because of fresh violence in the east. The parliament will now work continuously through September 2nd.
Serhiy Sobolev, the head of the Batkivshchyna parliament faction, said lawmakers -- with the exception of the Communists and the Party of Regions -- have approved the continuation of European integration and adopted a bill on military reforms that, among other things, changes the status of forces engaged in antiterrorist operations to that of formal combatants. The previous uncertainty on that issue had caused massive dissatisfaction among border guards, army soldiers, and members of the National Guard.
Political observer Oleksandr Paly said he approved of the decision to cancel summer recess. "It's a good thing the lawmakers will be at work. It gives them the possibility to support the antiterrorist operations, to introduce martial law if needed, or even to self-dissolve" to make way for fresh elections.
Unconfirmed reports of fighting outside Luhansk
Barring any major developments that ends our live blogging for today.
From our news desk:
Citing French diplomatic sources, reports say the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Russia, France, and Germany are to meet in Berlin on July 2 to discuss the Ukrainian crisis.
The news comes after the Ukrainian government forces resumed their assault on pro-Russian separatists in the east after a 10-day truce failed to resolve the crisis.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko "took upon himself the responsibility for unleashing battle actions in Ukraine."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Poroshenko's decision not to extend the cease-fire started “a new cycle of bloodshed with consequences unpredictable for the Ukrainian state.”
The Foreign Ministry said Lavrov made the comments during a telephone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.