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)
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)
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 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
Poroshenko speaks Russian here, by the way.
— Nataliya Vasilyeva (@NatVasilyevaAP) August 26, 2014
Countering Putin's claims, Poroshenko describes nuts and bolts of how Ukraine's Association Agreement could be reconciled with trade wt R.
— Nataliya Vasilyeva (@NatVasilyevaAP) August 26, 2014
And now we have another quick update from our news desk on events in Minsk:
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says his talks in Minsk with Russian President Vladimir Putin and EU leaders are "deciding the fate of the world and Europe."
He spoke as multilateral talks began today that include Putin, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev.
Poroshenko also said he is seeking "political compromise" and that halting supplies of weapons to separatists in the southeast would open the way for peace in eastern Ukraine.
Putin said the Ukraine crisis can only be resolved by talks between Kyiv and representatives of southeastern Ukraine.
Separately, Nazarbaev told Poroshenko he should meet in direct bilateral talks with Putin.
The Kazakh president also called for a truce in eastern Ukraine and for the delivery of humanitarian aid.
(ITAR-TASS, Interfax, Reuters)
Early takeaway from meeting: Putin ignores elephant in the room (war in Ukraine) and rants about trade, mentions war only in passing.
— Nataliya Vasilyeva (@NatVasilyevaAP) August 26, 2014Poroshenko sounds surprisingly restrained, doesn't mention Russian aggression/servicemen on its territory/weapons for rebels/border woes.1/2
— Nataliya Vasilyeva (@NatVasilyevaAP) August 26, 2014Here is today's map of the military situation in eastern Ukraine from the National Security and Defense Council:
