Virgin billionaire unites 16 "concerned business leaders from Russia, Ukraine and the West" to "encourage our governments to compromise and find a peaceful solution to the current conflict." Here's a passage from their appeal:
We as business leaders from Russia, Ukraine and the rest of the world urge our governments to work together to ensure we do not regress into the Cold War misery of the past. We call upon politicians to be bold and brave, so that our nations can end the painful suffering caused by war and once again collaborate for the greater good.
As a group of global business leaders, we would like to offer whatever support we can to help resolve this violent conflict. We appeal to other business leaders everywhere to open up a dialogue to create ways to resolve the issues peacefully. Conversations, not armed conflict are critical at this juncture.
An absolutely fascinating glimpse inside a top negotiator's efforts to free captives in this conflict (in Ukrainian Russian).
Liveuamap also has a situation map that is very detailed, by the way:
Today's situation map from the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council:
Zhenya O for our Ukrainian Service on the news that Poroshenko and Putin are both expected to attend a bilateral meeting in Minsk on August 26:
The National Security and Defense Council says Ukrainian authorities have "not yet received documentation on the content of Russian humanitarian aid" sitting in those 270-odd trucks waiting at the border.
The flag was down a while ago. Here's the repainting work going on...back to wheat-colored.
The frequency of fresh sightings of heavily armed military columns snaking through eastern Ukraine, possibly of Russian origin, invites skepticism at the most optimistic pro-Kyiv analyses.
But here's an interesting Reuters piece on "Ukraine Rebel Movement Faces Uncertain Future." An excerpt:
A recording of separatist leaders released by Ukraine's state security service suggested more Russian citizens fighting in Ukraine were looking to leave. A rebel fighter told Reuters the insurgency was in a critical phase.
"Everything is coming to a head," he said.
Much about the circumstances of Borodai and Strelkov’s departures is unknown, and it is difficult to tell yet whether they mark a change of tactics or a winding down of Russian support.
Rebel website Novorossiya reported 1,000 fighters, more than 100 armoured vehicles and new weapons supplies had been promised in return for Strelkov’s resignation. It did not say which entity or individual had made this promise.