Aleksandr Khodakovsky, one of the leaders of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, said the Ukrainian military has "no chance" of defeating separatist forces in the country's east. In an interview with RFE/RL correspondent Andrei Babitsky on August 30 in Donetsk, the commander of the Vostok separatist battalion said former members of the Russian armed forces have been "sharing their expertise" with the rebel forces, but he stopped short of admitting the direct involvement of Russia's regular forces in eastern Ukraine.
Russia's foreign minister has condemned Ukraine for its NATO hopes, dpa reports:
Russia on Tuesday condemned plans by Ukraine to give up its non-aligned status, and seek NATO membership.
"This idea by the government in Kiev is an attempt by the party of war to disrupt the attempts to find a political solution," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Moscow, the Interfax news agency reported.
Lavrov added that "it is a pity that the US, some EU member states and NATO officials are playing up the idea."
The Ukrainian parliament is discussing a bill that would lift a 2010 law that stipulates the country's non-aligned status. Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, who submitted the bill, has said that it would open the path to Ukraine's NATO membership.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is expected to attend the NATO summit in Britain later this week.
Russia has vehemently opposed the idea of Ukraine joining NATO and President Vladimir Putin has justified the annexation of Crimea by pointing to the possibility of Ukraine's NATO membership.
Kyiv says its forces are still in control of Donetsk's airport:
The latest news from Ukraine, via our news desk:
The Kremlin has backtracked after President Vladimir Putin was quoted as saying his military could capture Kyiv in two weeks if he gave the order, while Ukrainian government forces suffered new losses in the fighting against separatists the West says are backed by Russian soldiers.
The Italian newspaper "La Repubblica" reported on September 1 that Putin told outgoing European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, "If I want, I can take Kyiv in two weeks."
The newspaper report implied Putin's warning was a response to the possibility the EU would impose further sanctions on Russia over its role in the Ukraine crisis.
The comment was reportedly relayed by Barroso to leaders at a European Union summit on August 30 during which EU leaders decided they should step up sanctions if Moscow does not pull its troops back from Ukraine, where NATO estimated last week that there were more than 1,000 Russian soldiers.
Putin's senior foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, said on September 2 that the remarks were "taken out of context and had a completely different meaning."
He said that "whether the comments were made or not," it was "unworthy of a serious political figure" to reveal details of a private conversation.
Putin's reported remark was the latest in a series of comments that have raised concerns about his intentions toward Ukraine.
Russia annexed the former Soviet republic's Crimea region in March, and the West has rejected its denials that it is supporting pro-Russian rebels who control parts of the southeastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.
On August 31, Putin called for talks on "statehood" for southeastern Ukraine, though his spokesman said that did not mean Moscow endorsed independence for rebel-held areas.
The pro-Western government in Kyiv says recent gains by separatists, who had appeared to be close to defeat last month, came as a result of Russian military support.
Government forces abandoned the international airport outside the city of Luhansk on September 1 and video footage indicated they had also retreated from the airport in Donetsk.
Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said on September 2 that 15 military personnel had been killed and 49 others injured in the previous 24 hours. He did not report losses suffered by the separatists.
UN refugee agency spokesman Vincent Cochetel said on September 2 that the number of people displaced within Ukraine by the conflict as nearly doubled in the past three weeks to at least 260,000.
More than 2,600 people have been killed since the fighting began in April.
The Ukrainian government, NATO and Western nations say Russia has sent troops, artillery and tanks across the border to reinforce the separatists.
Moscow denies the claim and has accused the Ukrainian government of undermining efforts to reach a negotiated settlement.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on September 2 accused Washington, European nations and NATO of supporting what he called the "party of war" in Kyiv. He was referring in part to calls by senior Ukrainian officials for the country to abandon its non-aligned status and seek NATO membership.
NATO, at a summit this week, is expected to agree on plans to boost its military presence in Central and Eastern Europe amid heightened concerns in member states near Russia's borders about Moscow's possible intentions.
A senior Russian official said NATO's plans were "evidence of the desire of US and NATO leaders to continue their policy of aggravating tensions with Russia."
Mikhail Popov, the deputy head of Russia's National Security Council, said deteriorating relations with the United States and NATO will be reflected when Russia's 2010 defense doctrine is adjusted later this year.
NATO says the planned rotation of troops and equipment will not breach an agreement struck with Russia in 1997, limiting its presence in Eastern Europe.
U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to arrive in Baltic NATO member Estonia on September 2 before heading to Britain for the alliance's summit.
Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini, who will be the next EU foreign affairs chief, said the European Union will take a decision on a package of new sanctions against Russia by September 5.
Mogherini told the European Parliament on September 2 the EU planned to boost sanctions, including in defense, dual use goods and finance. (Reuters, AFP, and Interfax)
The Ukrainian military on September 1 pulled its forces back from a vital airport outside the eastern city of Donetsk. Wreckage and debris littered the airport grounds following a battle against separatists, who Kyiv says have the direct support of hundreds of Russian troops and armor. (Reuters)
Here's today's map of the military situation in eastern Ukraine from the National Security and Defense Council:
