12:24
2.6.2014
U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Derek Chollet is in Kyiv today. Some comments from a news conference at the Ukrainian Crisis Media Center.
"This morning we also discussed the ongoing violence perpetrated by Russian-backed separatists in the east, seeking to undermine the democratically elected government of the unified Ukraine."
"We are interested in providing further assistance. The Ukrainians have asked us for a very long list of items that they need to acquire and we the United States, as well as close partners of ours, Poland, France, the United Kingdom will be working with Ukraine in the coming weeks to help fulfill those requests."
"This morning we also discussed the ongoing violence perpetrated by Russian-backed separatists in the east, seeking to undermine the democratically elected government of the unified Ukraine."
"We are interested in providing further assistance. The Ukrainians have asked us for a very long list of items that they need to acquire and we the United States, as well as close partners of ours, Poland, France, the United Kingdom will be working with Ukraine in the coming weeks to help fulfill those requests."
11:54
2.6.2014
Hundreds of people marched through Kharkiv on June 1 to protest what Russian state media organizations have dubbed the "Russian Spring," the rise of pro-Moscow separatism in Ukraine's east.
The protesters carried a giant Ukrainian flag and sang the national anthem at the foot of the Independence Monument in central Kharkiv. Here is video from RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service.
The protesters carried a giant Ukrainian flag and sang the national anthem at the foot of the Independence Monument in central Kharkiv. Here is video from RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service.
11:10
2.6.2014
From our news desk, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Russia will submit a draft resolution to the UN Security Council demanding an immediate end to violence in Ukraine.
Lavrov said in Moscow that the resolution, to be submitted on June 2, will also seek to establish a humanitarian aid corridor in eastern Ukraine and begin a dialogue on a cease-fire.
Lavrov said that Western countries had assured Moscow that the situation in Ukraine would improve after the country's May 25 presidential election, which saw billionaire Petro Poroshenko win the vote.
But Lavrov says that, instead of improvement, "everything is happening in exactly the opposite way."
Lavrov said that Western countries had assured Moscow that the situation in Ukraine would improve after the country's May 25 presidential election, which saw billionaire Petro Poroshenko win the vote.
But Lavrov says that, instead of improvement, "everything is happening in exactly the opposite way."
10:03
2.6.2014
Kyiv Post has a write-up of the attack on the border post in Luhansk, including this video of the attack, filmed apparently by Ukraine's Border Service.
09:29
2.6.2014
And in diplomacy news:
U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Derek Chollet is due to visit Kyiv for meetings June 2 with Ukrainian officials.
Chollet is also due to give a press conference at the Ukrainian Crisis Media Center.
Press reports say the visit is aimed at reassuring Ukrainian President-elect Petro Poroshenko about Washington's suport for his government and showing Russian President Vladimir Putin the strength of the U.S. commitment to Ukraine.
Poroshenko, who is due to be inaugurated on June 7, is due to meet U.S. President Barack Obama on June 4 in Warsaw.
It is unusual for a U.S. president to meet with a head of state before that individual takes office.
Chollet is also due to give a press conference at the Ukrainian Crisis Media Center.
Press reports say the visit is aimed at reassuring Ukrainian President-elect Petro Poroshenko about Washington's suport for his government and showing Russian President Vladimir Putin the strength of the U.S. commitment to Ukraine.
Poroshenko, who is due to be inaugurated on June 7, is due to meet U.S. President Barack Obama on June 4 in Warsaw.
It is unusual for a U.S. president to meet with a head of state before that individual takes office.
09:25
2.6.2014
Ahead of the gas talks later today in Brussels, Russian energy giant Gazprom has delayed the introduction of advance payment for gas supplies to Ukraine to June 9 after receiving partial payment from Kyiv.
Gazprom CEO Aleksei Miller made the announcement on June 2 following confirmation by Russia's Energy Ministry that it had received a $786 million payment for part of its estimated $5.2 billion gas debt to Moscow.
"We welcome Ukraine starting to pay back its debt and postpone the prepayment regime until June 9," Miller said in a statement.
The payment is intended to keep alive a new round of negotiations on settling Ukraine's debt, expected to take place on June 2 in Brussels.
European Union Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger has said he hopes some sort of breakthrough can be reached.
"We welcome Ukraine starting to pay back its debt and postpone the prepayment regime until June 9," Miller said in a statement.
The payment is intended to keep alive a new round of negotiations on settling Ukraine's debt, expected to take place on June 2 in Brussels.
European Union Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger has said he hopes some sort of breakthrough can be reached.
08:45
2.6.2014
More on that border guard attack from our news desk:
Ukraine's border guard service says a number of servicemen have been wounded in an insurgent attack on their camp in eastern Ukraine.
In a statement, the Ukrainian State Border Service said that some 100 armed insurgents attacked the border guards' camp in Luhansk in the early hours of June 2.
A gunbattle ensued. A Ukrainian fighter jet was called in for support.
The border service says the number of the attackers eventually swelled to 200.
The fighting is reportedly ongoing.
The conflict between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian insurgents in eastern Ukraine has escalated in the last week, with pro-Russian separatists attempting to seize the airport in Donetsk and the shooting down of a Ukrainian military helicopter, killing 14 soldiers.
In a statement, the Ukrainian State Border Service said that some 100 armed insurgents attacked the border guards' camp in Luhansk in the early hours of June 2.
A gunbattle ensued. A Ukrainian fighter jet was called in for support.
The border service says the number of the attackers eventually swelled to 200.
The fighting is reportedly ongoing.
The conflict between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian insurgents in eastern Ukraine has escalated in the last week, with pro-Russian separatists attempting to seize the airport in Donetsk and the shooting down of a Ukrainian military helicopter, killing 14 soldiers.
08:42
2.6.2014
08:42
2.6.2014
Good morning, starting the live blog for another day. There are key gas talks today in Brussels, after Kyiv has transferred some of its debt to Moscow.
19:55
1.6.2014
Barring any major developments, that ends the live blogging for tonight.