European Parliament President Martin Schulz at a news conference in Brussels on the upcoming Ukrainian election:
"Ukraine has already acquired a little bit more stability after the election of President [Petro] Poroshenko. Countries in crisis need strong institutions and the acting Rada (Ukrainian parliament) is for sure not a Rada representing the political tendencies of the country and the will of citizens. Therefore, yes, I expect that a new Rada will build a new government. My feeling is that there is a chance for a [future] Rada working strongly and constructively with Poroshenko and that could lead to more coherence and more stability in the country."
From our newsroom:
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine says it successfully tested a drone in eastern Ukraine.
The unarmed drone will reportedly be among three used to observe the shaky cease-fire between government forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
The Austrian-built drone was tested on October 23 near the port city of Mariupol, near the conflict zone in the Donetsk region.
The OSCE has received two drones and is expecting a third one for use in recording truce violations and monitoring the general security situation in eastern Ukraine, where the two sides have been fighting for six months.
Routine flights by the drones are expected to begin on October 24.
The September cease-fire agreement ended most hostilities in a conflict that has claimed more than 3,700 lives.
With reporting by Interfax
That concludes our live blogging for Thursday, October 23. Follow continuing coverage of Ukraine and all of RFE's broadcast region HERE.
From our newsroom:
Poland's former prime minister, Donald Tusk, has denied that Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that Russia and Poland carve up Ukraine.
Tusk told Polish Radio TOK-FM on October 24 that Putin never made such an offer to him.
The claim was made by former foreign minister Radek Sikorsk,i who said in an interview with the U.S. internet magazine Politico on October 19 that the offer was made in a one-on-one meeting between Tusk and Putin in Moscow in 2008.
But Sikorski later backed away from the allegation, saying his memory had failed him.
Tusk said October 24 that Sikorski must have gotten the impression from alarming remarks Putin made at a NATO summit in Bucharest in 2008 in which he said Ukraine was an artificial country and that Russia has interests there.
Must-see investigative report from our Ukrainian correspondent Natalie Sedletska, who used car, boat, and drone to track down these mansions connected to former Naftogaz oligarchs running for office -- and the immunity it carries with it.
U.S. Urges Ukrainians To Vote
