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A woman carries a baby as she passes destroyed houses following what locals say was overnight shelling by Ukrainian forces in the eastern town of Slovyansk on June 9.
A woman carries a baby as she passes destroyed houses following what locals say was overnight shelling by Ukrainian forces in the eastern town of Slovyansk on June 9.
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Live Blog: Crisis In Ukraine (Archive)

Summary for June 9

-- Ukraine's Foreign Ministry says that Moscow and Kyiv have reached a "mutual understanding" on key parts of a plan proposed by President Petro Poroshenko for ending violence in separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine.

-- Reports say up to 20 armed gunmen were trying to seize property from a factory (Topaz) that makes communications and electronic-warfare equipment in the Donetsk region.

-- A deputy foreign minister says Russia will consider any expansion of NATO forces near its borders a "demonstration of hostile intentions" and "take the necessary political and military-technological measures to support our security."

-- A two-man crew for Russian Zvezda TV arrived in Moscow after being released from detention in Ukraine.

-- Serbian officials say their own work on the Russian-backed South Stream gas pipeline will have to be suspended after Bulgaria stopped construction of its portion based on EU and U.S. concerns.

-- Ukrainian security forces are reportedly still battling pro-Russian separatists in the east near Slovyansk and Donetsk.

*NOTE: Times are stated according to local time in Kyiv
22:54 6.6.2014

22:54 6.6.2014

22:07 6.6.2014
Here's a transcript of an interesting exchange between French President Francois Hollande and an unidentified war veteran speaking today during the D-Day commemoration ceremony in Normandy. Their talk was picked up by microphones and cameras during the live televised event and a video of the brief discussion was published with subtitles on the Sky News website.
Veteran: Was [Russian President Vladimir] Putin there, was he friendly?

Hollande: Yes, we talked to him and with [Ukrainian President-elect Petro] Poroshenko. We brought Ukraine and Russia together.

Veteran: Did they speak with [U.S. President Barack] Obama?

Hollande: Yes, they spoke.

Veteran: Is it going to work?

Hollande: It must work. We want this ceremony to be useful to the world. Of course we want to commemorate your fight and your courage.

Veteran: I spoke to [Britain's] Prince Philip and apparently he was going to talk to Putin.

Hollande: Yes, he was there as well.

22:01 6.6.2014

20:46 6.6.2014
RFE/RL's news desk has another update about the informal talks in France earlier today:
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Ukraine's President-elect Petro Poroshenko has "the right approach" to the crisis in eastern Ukraine.

Putin and Poroshenko met on the sidelines of the June 6 D-Day anniversary events in France, their first meeting since Poroshenko was elected president of Ukraine on May 25.

Putin later told reporters that during the 15-minute meeting, he and Poroshenko discussed the main issues related to settling the crisis.

Poroshenko separately told reporters that he sees "good chances" of successful dialogue with Russia.

Putin also spoke with U.S. President Barack Obama at the D-Day ceremonies.

Ben Rhodes, a deputy U.S. national security advisor, said Obama indicated that if Russia engaged with the new government in Kyiv, "there could be openings to reduce tensions."

19:56 6.6.2014

19:25 6.6.2014
Our news desk has issued this item on reports of heavy fighting near Slovyansk:
Ukrainian security forces have reportedly been engaged in heavy fighting against pro-Russian separatists near the town of Slovyansk in eastern Ukraine.

Deputy Interior Minister Serhiy Sarovy said on June 6 that separatists who had taken up a position in a church near Slovyansk launched a mortar attack on a security checkpoint.

One police officer was killed and two injured in that attack.

The separatists also claim they shot down a Ukrainian surveillance aircraft near Slovyansk.

Purported amateur video footage posted on the Internet appeared to show an aircraft falling down, one of its engines on fire.

The reports claimed that the An-30 surveillance plane came down a few kilometers east of the city.

The claims could not be immediately confirmed.

WATCH: A video purportedly showing the downing of a Ukrainian surveillance plane

18:10 6.6.2014

17:44 6.6.2014

17:13 6.6.2014

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