11:59
28.5.2014
Reports of renewed and heavy gunfire in Donetsk and Slavyansk. These terrorists aren't going to go easily. Putin will test Poroshenko
— bruce springnote (@BSpringnote) May 28, 2014
11:58
28.5.2014
I'm sure there are many who'd love to be a fly on the wall at this meeting (from RFE/RL's news desk):
A close aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin says Putin will discuss the crisis in Ukraine at talks with French President Francois Hollande in Paris on June 5.
Putin will meet Hollande on the eve of events to mark a World War II anniversary.
It would be Putin's first meeting with the leader of a major Western power after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea in March.
Yuri Ushakov also said that what he described as the Ukrainian government's "provocative" military actions in eastern Ukraine push the crisis further into deadlock.
Meanwhile, the Reuters news agency quotes a NATO military officer as saying that Russia has withdrawn thousands of troops from areas near the Ukrainian border but that tens of thousands remain.
NATO previously estimated that Russia had amassed 40,000 troops on Ukraine's border.
Meanwhile, in an interview with Germany's "Bild" daily, Petro Poroshenko, who won Ukraine's presidential election, says "a real war is being waged" against Ukraine. "We will end this terror," he said.
Putin will meet Hollande on the eve of events to mark a World War II anniversary.
It would be Putin's first meeting with the leader of a major Western power after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea in March.
Yuri Ushakov also said that what he described as the Ukrainian government's "provocative" military actions in eastern Ukraine push the crisis further into deadlock.
Meanwhile, the Reuters news agency quotes a NATO military officer as saying that Russia has withdrawn thousands of troops from areas near the Ukrainian border but that tens of thousands remain.
NATO previously estimated that Russia had amassed 40,000 troops on Ukraine's border.
Meanwhile, in an interview with Germany's "Bild" daily, Petro Poroshenko, who won Ukraine's presidential election, says "a real war is being waged" against Ukraine. "We will end this terror," he said.
11:42
28.5.2014
Here's some footage of the battle at Donetsk airport on May 26 from our sister network VOA:
11:39
28.5.2014
People seek shelter underground in #Donetsk but no actual shooting, as @RolandOliphant reports pic.twitter.com/9HY5PgJjqE
— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) May 28, 2014
11:32
28.5.2014
This latest development reported by our news desk will hardly allay Russian fears that Kyiv will ultimately join the NATO fold:
Ukraine, Poland, and Lithuania could set up a joint military brigade as soon as next month.
Ukraine's government has tasked acting Defense Minister Mykhaylo Koval with signing an agreement to create the joint brigade.
Koval said yesterday that he expects an agreement to be signed next month.
He said that by working jointly with NATO members Poland and Lithuania, Ukraine's military could bring its performance up to NATO standards.
He said the Ukrainian part of the joint brigade will be based in the western city of Lviv. It will perform joint tasks and participate in peacekeeping missions.
The announcement comes amid tensions between Russia and the West over the crisis in eastern Ukraine. Poland and Lithuania have long pushed for closer military ties with Ukraine.
Russia has said Moscow's big concern is that Ukraine will eventually join NATO.
Ukraine's government has tasked acting Defense Minister Mykhaylo Koval with signing an agreement to create the joint brigade.
Koval said yesterday that he expects an agreement to be signed next month.
He said that by working jointly with NATO members Poland and Lithuania, Ukraine's military could bring its performance up to NATO standards.
He said the Ukrainian part of the joint brigade will be based in the western city of Lviv. It will perform joint tasks and participate in peacekeeping missions.
The announcement comes amid tensions between Russia and the West over the crisis in eastern Ukraine. Poland and Lithuania have long pushed for closer military ties with Ukraine.
Russia has said Moscow's big concern is that Ukraine will eventually join NATO.
11:14
28.5.2014
Multiply reports of explosions in #Donetsk & #Slovyansk as Ukrainian army moves on w/ another attempt to push back against pro-Russia rebels
— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) May 28, 2014
11:13
28.5.2014
Strelkov's order to execute two rebels in Slavyansk for looting, based on a Soviet decree from 1941. Note the stamp. pic.twitter.com/B0EBTRyYvv
— max seddon (@maxseddon) May 28, 2014
10:49
28.5.2014
Regular Power Vertical podcast participant Mark Galeotti has been blogging about Moscow's possible next move in east Ukraine:
Read the entire article here
This is the irony at work. Moscow’s strategy of chaos has worked too well, eating away not just at the cohesion of the rump Ukrainian state but also the emergent East Ukrainians, too. There appears to be increasing evidence of disputes between militias, and between the relatively professional defectors from the Ukrainian security forces, the opportunist thugs, and the “war tourists” from Russia. Thus, Moscow’s hopes to be able to cut a deal with Kyiv–regardless of whether Poroshenko can and will offer the Kremlin what it wants–depends now on bringing order to chaos. The Russians wished for chaos; now they know why so many folk tales warn of being careful what one wishes for…
Read the entire article here
10:43
28.5.2014
Pro-separatist miner rally in #Donetsk. Few hundred in attendance pic.twitter.com/ZJELMTGSPE
— Courtney Weaver (@courtneymoscow) May 28, 2014
10:24
28.5.2014
Chechens tell @courtneymoscow Kadyrov sent them to Ukraine: http://t.co/Z2ut65RP5Z Kadyrov denies on Instagram: http://t.co/XfCg2beKYG
— max seddon (@maxseddon) May 28, 2014