The U.S. ambassador to Ukraine weighs in on recent controversial leaks of journalists' data.
Good morning. We'll start the live blog with this item from our news desk on the G7 meeting in Japan:
G7 Leaders Call On Sides In Ukraine Conflict To Abide By Minsk Agreements
The leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) economic powers have urged all sides in the Ukraine conflict to take "concrete steps" that will lead to the complete cease-fire required under the Minsk agreements.
After two days of talks in Japan, the leaders of the United States, Canada, Britain, Italy, Germany, France, and Japan said on May 27 that the sides should fulfill their commitments "without delay" with a view to holding elections in separatist-held areas "as soon as possible."
"We reiterate our condemnation of the illegal annexation of the Crimean Peninsula by Russia [in March 2014] and reaffirm our policy of its non-recognition and sanctions against those involved,” their final statement says.
It calls on Russia to meet its commitments, saying the G7 leaders "stand ready to take further restrictive measures in order to increase cost on Russia should its actions so require.”
The Minsk deal signed in February 2015 has helped reduce fighting in eastern Ukraine, but sporadic clashes have continued. The conflict has killed more than 9,300 people since April 2014.
That concludes our live-blogging of the Ukraine crisis for Thursday, May 26. Check back here tomorrow for more of our continuing coverage.