Regular Power Vertical podcast contributor Mark Galeotti's views on Ukraine (and elsewhere) are always with reading:
We are now closing the live blog for today. Until we resume again tomorrow morning, you can keep up with all our ongoing Ukraine coverage here.
Good morning. Here's a Ukraine-related story that came in overnight:
The Wall Street Journal reported on October 28 that nations in NATO are discussing increasing the number of troops stationed along the Russian border.
One plan would place battalions in Poland and three Baltic states, while another would have a single NATO battalion in the area, according to the newspaper, which cited military and diplomatic sources.
Since Russia annexed Crimea from neighboring Ukraine last year, countries in the area have been concerned about its next move. The Russian military has also stepped up its exercises in the region, further heightening anxiety among its neighbors.
The move to consider stationing more troops along Russia's border comes as central and eastern European nations are pressing for a greater NATO presence in their region.
The Romanian presidency said on October 28 that Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia will use a November 4 NATO summit in Bucharest to call for measures to "strengthen the eastern border of NATO."
Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, and Wall Street Journal