08:13
29.5.2014
RFE/RL's news desk has this update on those missing OSCE observers:
In a statement on May 28, OSCE chief Didier Burkhalter slammed the detentions as "acts of sabotage" that "cannot be tolerated."
He called for their "immediate and unconditional release."
A second group of 11 OSCE observers was detained in the same region of Donetsk on May 28, but the OSCE later said it had managed to reestablish contact.
In late April, a team of seven OSCE observers was abducted in eastern Ukraine until eventually being released in early May.
The self-declared separatist "mayor" of the eastern Ukrainian city of Slovyansk, Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, says four observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) who went missing earlier this week are being held by pro-Russian rebels.
The Interfax news agency quotes Ponomaryov as saying the observers, who were last heard from on May 26, are "fine" and were detained because they were "too zealous."
He promised that the team -- which comprises a Dane, a Turk, an Estonian, and a Swiss -- will be freed soon.
The Interfax news agency quotes Ponomaryov as saying the observers, who were last heard from on May 26, are "fine" and were detained because they were "too zealous."
He promised that the team -- which comprises a Dane, a Turk, an Estonian, and a Swiss -- will be freed soon.
In a statement on May 28, OSCE chief Didier Burkhalter slammed the detentions as "acts of sabotage" that "cannot be tolerated."
He called for their "immediate and unconditional release."
A second group of 11 OSCE observers was detained in the same region of Donetsk on May 28, but the OSCE later said it had managed to reestablish contact.
In late April, a team of seven OSCE observers was abducted in eastern Ukraine until eventually being released in early May.
08:07
29.5.2014
'The aggression of Putin may have tipped a decisive majority of Ukrainians towards support for a unified country' http://t.co/bUF7xQfm4V
— Pete Josse (@PeterRadiator) May 29, 2014
08:05
29.5.2014
80 Ukrainian national guard troops surrender their post and weapons in Luhansk. Well intentioned troops poorly led and not well trained
— bruce springnote (@BSpringnote) May 29, 2014
08:00
29.5.2014
Vandalized Metro store in Donetsk pic.twitter.com/7XhaxseN6o
— bruce springnote (@BSpringnote) May 29, 2014
07:39
29.5.2014
Good morning. We'll start the live blog today with this update from RFE/RL's news desk:
Ukraine’s National Guard says it suffered fresh losses, but also killed rebels, when pro-Russian separatists raided their barracks in Luhansk late on May 28.
The violence came after Ukraine’s newly elected president, Petro Poroshenko, promised to hold crisis talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at next week’s D-Day commemorations in France.
Meanwhile, Russian and Ukrainian diplomats traded barbs on May 28 over violence in eastern Ukraine.
Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said the UN Security Council should call on Ukraine to end the "military chaos.”
Ukraine's UN Ambassador Yuriy Sergeyev said the Security Council should demand that Russia withdraw all of its soldiers and paramilitary groups from Ukrainian territory.
Sergeyev said Moscow must also tell hundreds of Chechens, Cossacks, and Russian mercenaries to leave Ukraine.
Donetsk was calm on May 28 after dozens of pro-Russian separatists were killed in a battle at the city's airport the day before.
Ukraine’s National Guard says it suffered fresh losses, but also killed rebels, when pro-Russian separatists raided their barracks in Luhansk late on May 28.
The violence came after Ukraine’s newly elected president, Petro Poroshenko, promised to hold crisis talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at next week’s D-Day commemorations in France.
Meanwhile, Russian and Ukrainian diplomats traded barbs on May 28 over violence in eastern Ukraine.
Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said the UN Security Council should call on Ukraine to end the "military chaos.”
Ukraine's UN Ambassador Yuriy Sergeyev said the Security Council should demand that Russia withdraw all of its soldiers and paramilitary groups from Ukrainian territory.
Sergeyev said Moscow must also tell hundreds of Chechens, Cossacks, and Russian mercenaries to leave Ukraine.
Donetsk was calm on May 28 after dozens of pro-Russian separatists were killed in a battle at the city's airport the day before.
22:07
28.5.2014
Barring any late breaking news, this ends our live-blogging for May 28. You can follow our continuing Ukraine coverage here.
21:37
28.5.2014
Germany's Angela Merkel criticizes Russia's annexation of Crimea (from the news desk):
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the lessons of two world wars have led her to take a firm stance against Russia's annexation of Ukraine's territory of Crimea.
At a May 28 opening of an exhibition on World War I, Merkel said Russia's annexation of Crimea was unacceptable, as it upset Europe's postwar order.
"Territorial integrity is the foundation pillar of our postwar European order," Merkel said and added, "If you start saying things like 'it's my right' and then just take something, you'll end up with an incredible calamity."
Merkel noted she would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin next week at ceremonies marking the Western allies' invasion of Nazi-held France in June 1944.
"The lesson of the past is to learn cooperation instead of confrontation," she said. (Reuters and dpa)
At a May 28 opening of an exhibition on World War I, Merkel said Russia's annexation of Crimea was unacceptable, as it upset Europe's postwar order.
"Territorial integrity is the foundation pillar of our postwar European order," Merkel said and added, "If you start saying things like 'it's my right' and then just take something, you'll end up with an incredible calamity."
Merkel noted she would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin next week at ceremonies marking the Western allies' invasion of Nazi-held France in June 1944.
"The lesson of the past is to learn cooperation instead of confrontation," she said. (Reuters and dpa)
20:46
28.5.2014
LATEST from our news desk:
Ukraine's National Guard has reported fighting in the restive eastern city of Luhansk and said there were new "losses."
The brief May 28 statement said pro-Russian separatists attacked and attempted to seize a base the National Guard unit was using.
The statement said there were losses "both in the ranks of the military unit and the attacking side" but did not provide any casualty figures.
The statement said separatists had attacked a different military base in Luhansk earlier on May 28. (UNIAN and AFP)
The brief May 28 statement said pro-Russian separatists attacked and attempted to seize a base the National Guard unit was using.
The statement said there were losses "both in the ranks of the military unit and the attacking side" but did not provide any casualty figures.
The statement said separatists had attacked a different military base in Luhansk earlier on May 28. (UNIAN and AFP)
19:59
28.5.2014
18:46
28.5.2014