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A woman carries a baby as she passes destroyed houses following what locals say was overnight shelling by Ukrainian forces in the eastern town of Slovyansk on June 9.
A woman carries a baby as she passes destroyed houses following what locals say was overnight shelling by Ukrainian forces in the eastern town of Slovyansk on June 9.
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Live Blog: Crisis In Ukraine (Archive)

Summary for June 9

-- Ukraine's Foreign Ministry says that Moscow and Kyiv have reached a "mutual understanding" on key parts of a plan proposed by President Petro Poroshenko for ending violence in separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine.

-- Reports say up to 20 armed gunmen were trying to seize property from a factory (Topaz) that makes communications and electronic-warfare equipment in the Donetsk region.

-- A deputy foreign minister says Russia will consider any expansion of NATO forces near its borders a "demonstration of hostile intentions" and "take the necessary political and military-technological measures to support our security."

-- A two-man crew for Russian Zvezda TV arrived in Moscow after being released from detention in Ukraine.

-- Serbian officials say their own work on the Russian-backed South Stream gas pipeline will have to be suspended after Bulgaria stopped construction of its portion based on EU and U.S. concerns.

-- Ukrainian security forces are reportedly still battling pro-Russian separatists in the east near Slovyansk and Donetsk.

*NOTE: Times are stated according to local time in Kyiv
12:30 13.5.2014
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13:13 13.5.2014
Another update from our news desk on Frank-Walter Steinmeier's diplomatic efforts:
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier says he hopes "roundtable" talks between politicians and civic groups will help to disarm pro-Russian separatists and improve the atmosphere for the May 25 presidential election.

Steinmeier, speaking in Kyiv after talks with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, called for the release of all hostages in eastern Ukraine and for separatists to vacate seized government buildings.

He said the situation in certain parts of Ukraine remains "dangerous and threatening."

Steinmeier also met with acting Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya and acting President President Oleksandr Turchynov before flying to Odesa.

But Yatsenyuk said the key to resolving the destabilizing situation in Ukraine "is not in Kyiv but in Moscow."

Yatsenyuk also thanked German diplomat Wolfgang Ischinger, organizer of Munich's annual security conference, for offering to moderate any round-table talks.
13:53 13.5.2014
14:01 13.5.2014
14:08 13.5.2014
Some news coming in from RFE/RL's Moldovan Service: It seems like Chisinau is taking a step closer to the EU. It's a safe bet to say that Kyiv will be closely watching how that pans out:
European Council President Herman Van Rompuy has invited Moldova's Prime Minister Iurie Leanca to sign a key political and economic deal with the European Union on June 27 in Brussels.

Van Rompuy extended the invitation during a meeting with Leanca in Moldova's capital, Chisinau.

The signing of the Association Agreement is expected to take place on the sidelines of an EU summit.

Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti said yesterday that Moldova will exercise its "sovereign right" and sign the agreement despite external political and economic pressures.

Timofti did not name Russia in his comments, but Moscow opposes Moldova seeking that deal with the EU, which Chisinau hopes to sign in June.

Moldova initialed the Association Agreement at a summit in Vilnius in November.
-- with reporting by Alexandru Eftode and Mircea Ticudean
14:49 13.5.2014
14:50 13.5.2014
14:55 13.5.2014
Another update from RFE/RL's news desk:
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has said it is "critically important" to find a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis.

Barroso called on Russia to engage constructively and urged Moscow not to use energy as a political weapon.

He was speaking after talks with Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk in Brussels today.

Earlier today, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on a visit to Kyiv that Germany will assist efforts to start "roundtable talks" between Ukraine's government and its opponents in the east of the country.

Yatsenyuk said the key to resolving the destabilizing situation in Ukraine "is not in Kyiv but in Moscow."

Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry said it expects pro-Russian separatists to comply with the OSCE roadmap for resolving the crisis if Kyiv authorities stop a military operation in eastern Ukraine.
14:58 13.5.2014

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