Here's a pic of that handshake between Putin and Poroshenko. No doubt body-language experts are poring over it right now.
Путин как-то по-дурацки заигрывает с Порошенко. Демонстрирует силу, но очень некрасиво. Видимо, дергается. pic.twitter.com/xfcDc2ySUH
— Новости Украины (@Dbnmjr) August 26, 2014
Our multimedia department has issued this Reuters video of Russian soldiers who Kyiv claims crossed the Russian-Ukrainian border illegally. Ukrainian authorities say they have detained the troops and are questioning them as part of a criminal investigation.
Here's a little bit more detail from our news desk on Poroshenko and Putin's handshake in Minsk:
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin shook hands at the start of multilateral talks in Minsk today, the first time the two presidents have met since June.
The meeting comes amid heightened tension over a pro-Russian insurgency in Ukraine’s east and what Kyiv says was an incursion by Russian forces yesterday.
The two leaders were heading into talks that also included Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev, and senior EU officials.
The Kremlin has not ruled out direct talks between Putin and Poroshenko.
Earlier in Minsk, Poroshenko said he hoped that the talks would result in an agreement that would bring peace to Ukraine.
Lukashenka later cautioned against expecting any major breakthroughs.
Poroshenko also held talks in Minsk today with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.
( ITAR-TASS, Interfax, AFP, Reuters, UNIAN)
It seems that Russia's food fight with the West is continuning apace:
Russia's food safety inspectors have closed two more McDonald's restaurants as the government continues to crack down on the chain amid tit-for-tat sanctions between Moscow and Washington over Ukraine.
Inspectors from Rospotrebnadzor consumer protection agency said they ordered the two restaurants -- one in Yekaterinburg and the other in Kazan -- to close temporaily "for technical reasons" after "unscheduled inspections."
The latest closures bring to six the number of McDonald's restaurants shut by state health officials in recent weeks.
Alexis Rodzianko, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia, told media on August 21 that the crackdown is "driven by political issues surrounding Ukraine."
Russia earlier this month slapped bans on Western food imports after Washington and Brussels imposed economic sanctions in response to Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region and backing of separatists.
(ITAR-TASS, Interfax)
!!! BREAKING NEWS !!!
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian Petro Poroshenko shook hands at the start of multilateral talks in Minsk, the first time the two presidents have met since June.
Putin arrives in Belarus ahead of summit with #Ukraine http://t.co/oRWY0k15qR pic.twitter.com/Q9cguM23PR
— ITV News (@itvnews) August 26, 2014
Belarusia hopes to benefit as host of Ukraine-Russia talks http://t.co/4DAJOSBaej
— The Guardian (@guardian) August 26, 2014
The U.S. Army vet Mark Gregory Paslawsky (aka "Franko") who died fighting pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine is being buried today. Here's a tweet from his funeral in Kyiv.
У Києві провели в останню путь бійця 'Донбасу' з позитивним 'Франко'. Марк Паславський загинув 19… http://t.co/E3YQrcplFa
— andrii bashtovyi (@nomoreanry) August 26, 2014
Russia quietly burying its troops recently killed in Ukraine http://t.co/zuj0jJ4BBp via @novaya_gazeta pic.twitter.com/CTLOGX6oHk
— Ryskeldi Satke (@RyskeldiSatke) August 26, 2014
At eastern checkpoint into Mariupol, excavators are digging deep trenches. City calm, but preparations for onslaught evidently in motion
— pete_leonard (@pete_leonard) August 26, 2014
At eastern checkpoint into Mariupol, excavators are digging deep trenches. City calm, but preparations for onslaught evidently in motion
— pete_leonard (@pete_leonard) August 26, 2014