12:58
8.6.2014
14:51
8.6.2014
Comments from the German foreign minister:
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has said only "substantial" talks between Moscow and Kyiv would help defuse the Ukraine crisis.
Steinmeier told German newspaper "Tagesspiegel" on June 8 that several developments had given rise to hope, such as the Ukrainian presidential vote and the first meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents in Paris.
"But there can only then be real progress when there are direct, substantial talks between Moscow and Kyiv," Steinmeier said.
Steinmeier said he will make the same point when he meets with the Polish and Russian foreign ministers, Radoslaw Sikorski and Sergei Lavrov, in St. Petersburg on June 10.
The meeting was agreed in January on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference before the crisis erupted.
Steinmeier also urged the Ukrainian government to retain a "sense of proportion" in its military operations against insurgents.
Steinmeier told German newspaper "Tagesspiegel" on June 8 that several developments had given rise to hope, such as the Ukrainian presidential vote and the first meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents in Paris.
"But there can only then be real progress when there are direct, substantial talks between Moscow and Kyiv," Steinmeier said.
Steinmeier said he will make the same point when he meets with the Polish and Russian foreign ministers, Radoslaw Sikorski and Sergei Lavrov, in St. Petersburg on June 10.
The meeting was agreed in January on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference before the crisis erupted.
Steinmeier also urged the Ukrainian government to retain a "sense of proportion" in its military operations against insurgents.
15:18
8.6.2014
There isn't so much coming from the ground in the east today, but AFP has this anon-sourced piece about a continued rebels attack at Luhansk airport.
Pro-Russian rebels fighting Ukraine's Western-backed government have launched their most serious attacks yet on Lugansk International Airport in the east of the country, a military source said Sunday.
The assaults, which took place Saturday evening and Sunday morning in the immediate wake of the inauguration of Ukraine's new President Petro Poroshenko, did not result in any injuries among the defenders, he said.
"It was clear the rebels were trying to destroy the building which controls the power supply to the airport," said the source, one of the Ukrainian paratroopers guarding the airport, talking to AFP by telephone.
"It's the first time we have had an attack of this kind. Up till now, we've only had a few skirmishes," said the soldier, who identified himself only as Sergiy.
Pro-Russian separatist proclaimed the independence of the "Lugansk People's Republic" in May, at about the same time as the neighbouring "Donetsk People's Republic".
The assaults, which took place Saturday evening and Sunday morning in the immediate wake of the inauguration of Ukraine's new President Petro Poroshenko, did not result in any injuries among the defenders, he said.
"It was clear the rebels were trying to destroy the building which controls the power supply to the airport," said the source, one of the Ukrainian paratroopers guarding the airport, talking to AFP by telephone.
"It's the first time we have had an attack of this kind. Up till now, we've only had a few skirmishes," said the soldier, who identified himself only as Sergiy.
Pro-Russian separatist proclaimed the independence of the "Lugansk People's Republic" in May, at about the same time as the neighbouring "Donetsk People's Republic".
17:38
8.6.2014
BREAKING: Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski has announced that Bulgaria is suspending work on the disputed Russian-backed South Stream gas pipeline following criticism from the European Union and United States
Oresharski, speaking after a meeting with U.S. senators, said, "I have ordered all work to be stopped. We will decide on further developments following consultations with Brussels."
Russia's energy ministry said that Moscow has not yet received any official notifications from Bulgaria about the suspension.
The South Stream pipeline was designed to carry Russian gas to the EU bypassing Ukraine.
Gas was to be pumped to the Bulgaria’s Black Sea port of Varna before extending overland through Serbia, Hungary, and Slovenia to supply gas to the Western Europe via Italy and Austria.
Oresharski, speaking after a meeting with U.S. senators, said, "I have ordered all work to be stopped. We will decide on further developments following consultations with Brussels."
Russia's energy ministry said that Moscow has not yet received any official notifications from Bulgaria about the suspension.
The South Stream pipeline was designed to carry Russian gas to the EU bypassing Ukraine.
Gas was to be pumped to the Bulgaria’s Black Sea port of Varna before extending overland through Serbia, Hungary, and Slovenia to supply gas to the Western Europe via Italy and Austria.
18:10
8.6.2014
A lot of similar videos have been doing the rounds today, showing burning buildings, destruction in Slovyansk.
18:54
8.6.2014
20:05
8.6.2014
Barring any major development we're wrapping up the live blog for the day.
07:23
9.6.2014
One of the images circulating of the destruction in Slovyansk, where -- along with Donetsk -- Ukrainian forces were in intense fighting against pro-Russian separatists.
07:31
9.6.2014
This dsnews.ua report suggests that with continued refusal to accept a "road map" in the federal budget for Crimean socio-economic development two months into its planning, the Russian government is showing a change of heart.
07:48
9.6.2014
From Russian media reports:
A Russian crew from Zvezda TV has arrived in Moscow after being released from detention in Ukraine.
Zvezda TV today confirmed the arrival in Moscow of soundman Andrei Sushenkov and cameraman Anton Malyshev, saying the two had been turned over to Russian authorities at the Nekhoteyevka border crossing in the Russian region of Belgorod.
It said the two were airlifted to Moscow by a Russian military plane.
They drove into eastern Ukraine from Russia on June 6, saying they'd cover the inauguration in Kyiv of President Petro Poroshenko.
Contact with them was lost on June 6 after they phoned their producer in Moscow, saying they’d been stopped at a checkpoint near Donetsk.
Zvezda TV -- together with Russia’s Human Rights Council, the Journalists Unions of Russia and Moscow, and the European Commission -- had urged Poroshenko to secure their release.
Zvezda TV today confirmed the arrival in Moscow of soundman Andrei Sushenkov and cameraman Anton Malyshev, saying the two had been turned over to Russian authorities at the Nekhoteyevka border crossing in the Russian region of Belgorod.
It said the two were airlifted to Moscow by a Russian military plane.
They drove into eastern Ukraine from Russia on June 6, saying they'd cover the inauguration in Kyiv of President Petro Poroshenko.
Contact with them was lost on June 6 after they phoned their producer in Moscow, saying they’d been stopped at a checkpoint near Donetsk.
Zvezda TV -- together with Russia’s Human Rights Council, the Journalists Unions of Russia and Moscow, and the European Commission -- had urged Poroshenko to secure their release.