On Hromadske TV, Ukraine Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk says Russia has been planning its invasion "since 2004," when the Orange Revolution derailed Kremlin-backed candidate Viktor Yanukovych's fraud-based path to the presidency (in Ukrainian):
...and says, "Frankly, the invasion began six months ago":
"Yatsenyuk: Putin's goal -- to restore the Soviet Union":
PM Yatsenyuk tells questioners in a Hromadske TV interview that Ukraine can't get by without Russian gas:
The Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council repeats its assertion -- based in part on passports and other documents seized during the fighting -- that Russian regular troops have joined pro-Russian forces in the battle for Ilovaysk:
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin have spoken by telephone. Here's what's emerged so far from that conversation:
- The Kremlin reports that Putin told Merkel further aid delays to Ukraine were "unacceptable," according to AFP.
- Reuters then quoted the Kremlin saying Putin expressed to Merkel "serious concern" over military escalation in eastern Ukraine.
- The Kremlin said Putin and Merkel discussed steps their countries could take to help achieve cease-fire in Ukraine as soon as possible.