From the RFE/RL news desk:
Russia's Foreign Ministry said on June 15 that it hoped a reported U.S. plan to station tanks and heavy weapons in NATO states on Russia's border would not go ahead.
"We hope that reason will prevail and the situation in Europe will be prevented from sliding into a new military confrontation which may have dangerous consequences," the ministry said in a statement.
Citing U.S. and allied officials, The New York Times reported on June 13 that Washington planned to store heavy military equipment in several Baltic and Eastern European countries to reassure allies made uneasy by Russia's action in Ukraine and to deter aggression.
Poland and Lithuania confirmed they were in talks with Washington on stationing heavy arms in warehouses in the region.
Polish Defense Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said Warsaw expects a final answer from Washington "within a few weeks."
The Kremlin has declined to comment on the reports.
Based on reports by Reuters and Interfax
A good turnout has been reported at this lake-side resort near eastern Ukraine's Slovyansk, with some boasting it has more people than at some recently seen deserted beaches in Crimea.
The OSCE says there were 594 explosions near the Donestk airport over the weekend.
Self-styled separatist leader in Donetsk Aleksandr Zakharchenko said today that the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic is an independent country and will not be a part of Ukraine.
A news flash from Reuters:
The White House continues to be concerned about the steady flow of weaponry from Russia across the Ukraine border, spokesman Josh Earnest said Monday.