Russia protests over shooting of cameraman in Ukraine, Kyiv govt responds: it's hard to tell apart journos & rebels http://t.co/Ru6Qwfpcfb
— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) June 30, 2014
This item from RFE/RL's news desk suggests there could be rumblings of a trade war between Russia and the EU as relations become increasingly strained over Ukraine:
The European Union is asking the World Trade Organization (WTO) to rule on a ban imposed by Moscow on EU imports of pork into Russia.
The European Commission wrote in a statement on June 30 that it is seeking a WTO ruling because "extensive bilateral discussions over the last months with Moscow have not brought any results."
Russia closed its market to live pigs and pork products in January, after four cases of African swine fever were detected in wild boars on the Lithuanian and Polish borders with Belarus.
Brussels says the move is unjustified and a breach of Russia's WTO commitments.
Russia accounts for almost 25 percent of EU pork exports.
The trade spat comes as relations between Russia and the West have plummeted over the crisis in Ukraine.
.@OSCE_RFoM calls on all parties in #Ukraine conflict to respect media freedom, refrain from violence against media http://t.co/ORSuSW1b9V
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) June 30, 2014
!!! BREAKING NEWS !!!
The French president's office says the presidents of Russia and Ukraine have agreed to work on the adoption of a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine and the quick establishment of effective border controls.
More to follow...
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: Disenchanted with home, many #Russians seek new life in #Ukraine http://t.co/GS1xYYltJ0
— Kyiv Post (@KyivPost) June 30, 2014
Ukraine, Russia to 'work on' extending ceasefire - French presidency via @AFP
— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) June 30, 2014
Mashable has published a controversial piece, suggesting that there might be more to the killing of Anatoly Klyan than meets the eye:
The bus, adorned with peace signs and reportedly carrying mothers of Ukrainian troops barricaded inside the military unit, was first fired upon as it approached the compound, Channel One said. It immediately retreated some 550 yards before stopping and letting passengers outside.
It was then, as a passenger lit a cigarette and a flare from the Ukrainian unit was fired into the night sky that Klyan was shot in the stomach. The driver of the bus, a man dressed in fatigues and donning an orange and black separatist ribbon, was shot in the neck.
But a journalist who was aboard the bus during the shooting told Mashable an alternative story, saying that while the incident was tragic, the event "felt like theater."
The journalist, who is Russian, spoke on condition of anonymity, because he feared reprisals from colleagues and separatist militiamen for telling a story that contradicted the one presented by Russian state media.
Read the entire article here
Here's another update from RFE/RL's news desk on OSCE monitoring operations:
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) says it has scaled back monitoring operations in eastern Ukraine and frozen further deployments.
The security and rights watchdog's deputy chief monitor, Alexander Hug, announced the step in Vienna today.
He told reporters, "We look forward to the day soon when we can resume our activities in eastern Ukraine to full mission strength, but for that to happen we need a number of improvements."
He added, "We need weapons to disappear, we need checkpoints to disappear, and we need freedom of movement."
The statement comes after pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine set free four captive OSCE monitors on June 26 and four more on June 28.
Hug said all eight monitors were unharmed and their release had been unconditional.
#Ukraine and #Russia to work on "truce extension." Well, it's been such a success so far... http://t.co/PlXeiwOqke
— David Patrikarakos (@dpatrikarakos) June 30, 2014