The UN Security Council has been discussing Ukraine. Here's what the OSCE had to say (from RFE/RL's news desk):
The monitoring mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in eastern Ukraine has warned that violations of a cease-fire agreement are becoming more frequent and severe.
Alexander Hug, the OSCE's deputy chief monitor, told the UN Security Council by videoconference on June 5 that OSCE monitors have noted the movement and presence of heavy weapons, and their use, in areas where they are prohibited by the cease-fire agreement signed in the Belarus capital Minsk in February.
Hug called on all sides to urgently return to the negotiating table
The Security Council meeting on Ukraine comes two days after the rebel forces attacked the government-held city of Maryinka.
Ukraine said it pulled some of its heavy weaponry back towards the frontline to repulse two offensives by the separatists in which tanks and heavy weapons were used.
UN political chief Jeffrey Feltman said 28 people including nine civilians were killed in the clashes around Maryinka
More than 6,400 people have been killed since fighting erupted in eastern Ukraine between government forces and Russian-backed separatists in April 2014.
(Reuters, AP)
We are now closing the live blog for today. Until we resume again tomorrow morning, you can keep up with all our ongoing Ukraine news coverage here.
Good morning. We'll start the live blog today with this short item from RFE/RL's news desk on a conversation yesterday between the Ukrainian and U.S. presidents:
U.S. President Barack Obama "reaffirmed the strong support of the United States for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity" in a telephone call with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, the White House said on June 5.
The two leaders "expressed their deep concern about the recent assault by combined Russian-separatist forces" across the current
line of contact near Donetsk, Ukraine, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.
The call came ahead of the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit in Germany, where the conflict in Ukraine is expected to be one of the top subjects of discussion.
Obama vowed to continue working with international partners to support Ukrainian reforms, Earnest said.
Also, Obama repeated the U.S. commitment to "a diplomatic resolution" of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, and urged putting continued pressure on Russia and the Moscow-backed separatists to "abide strictly" by the Minsk agreement negotiated in February.
(AP, dpa)
As you probably know, a gay pride rally is being held in Kyiv today amid fears that far-right groups will try to disrupt proceedings. Here's a brief Twitter summary of what's happened so far: