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Ukrainian servicemen ride in a tank close to the airport in the eastern city of Donetsk, a facility which has been the site of intense fighting for several weeks.
Ukrainian servicemen ride in a tank close to the airport in the eastern city of Donetsk, a facility which has been the site of intense fighting for several weeks.

Live Blog: Ukraine In Crisis (Archive)

We have moved the Ukraine Crisis Live Blog. Sorry for any inconvenience. Please find it HERE.

18:13 23.8.2014

Barring any major development, that concludes our live blogging for the day.

15:02 23.8.2014

14:56 23.8.2014

A wrap from our news desk on Merkel's comments today:

German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for all parties involved in the hostilities in eastern Ukraine to agree to a cease-fire during a visit to Kyiv on August 23.

Speaking after talks with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Merkel said peace was possible if "both sides" engage.

She added: "there must be two sides to be successful. You cannot achieve peace on your own. I hope the talks with Russia will lead to success," referring to the scheduled meeting of leaders from Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and EU officials on August 26 in Minsk.

Poroshenko said Ukraine would not sacrifice sovereignty for peace and Merkel stated that Germany supports the "territorial integrity" of Ukraine, including Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in March.

Poroshenko announced Merkel had pledged Berlin will provide some 500 million euros (about $650 million) to help rebuild Ukraine's war-torn eastern regions.

14:36 23.8.2014

14:35 23.8.2014

13:54 23.8.2014

13:20 23.8.2014

More slightly awkward body language.

13:10 23.8.2014

So now it seems most or even all of the trucks from the Russian aid convoy have returned back to Russia.

An AP reporter said 225 trucks had crossed back into Russia at the Donetsk checkpoint.

It is unknown exactly how many trucks were in the convoy that entered Ukraine, but between 250 and 280 trucks left Moscow when the convoy began.

12:34 23.8.2014

More from our news desk on Merkel's arrival in Kyiv:

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has arrived in Kyiv for talks with Ukrainian officials.

Merkel is scheduled to meet with President Petro Poroshenko, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, and several mayors of Ukrainian cities on her one-day visit.

Merkel and U.S. President Barack Obama agreed after a phone conversation on August 22 that the Russian decision to send a controversial aid convoy into Ukraine was a "dangerous escalation" of the Ukraine conflict.

Merkel's visit comes the same day that German Deputy Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said that federalizing Ukraine was the best step to preserve the country territorial integrity.

Ukrainian officials have fiercely rejected calls for federalization, which have previously been made mainly by Russian leaders.

Gabriel told the weekly "Welt am Sonntag" that German diplomats are doing everything possible to a prevent "direct military confrontation between Russia and Ukraine."

11:43 23.8.2014

Looks a bit awkward

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