Here are some more details from our news desk on Ukrainian fatalities over the past 24 hours:
A Ukrainian military spokesman says seven servicemen have been killed and 13 wounded in fighting with pro-Russian separatists in the past 24 hours.
The casualties were the highest daily losses for the Ukrainian army since mid-July, as violence continues to test a six-month-old cease-fire deal.
The fresh casualty figures come after U.S. President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke about the recent upsurge in violence in eastern Ukraine despite the cease-fire agreement reached in Minsk back in February.
In the call to Merkel on August 26, Obama noted that Kyiv was implementing its obligations under the Minsk agreements, and reiterated that Russia must do the same, according to a White House statement.
The statement said the recent violence had resulted from increased attacks by combined Russian-separatist forces across a line of contact established under the Minsk agreements.
Earlier on August 26, representatives from Ukraine and the rebels agreed to strive for an end to all truce violations from September 1.
(AFP, Reuters)
President Petro Poroshenko in Brussels stressed that Russia needs to abide by the Minsk agreements and immediately implement the cease-fire in Donbas.
“Minsk-3 cannot happen. It is necessary to fulfill the existing agreements. Today’s meetings were among other things devoted to the fact that Russia doesn’t respect its own commitments,” said Poroshenko after a meeting with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
The Ukrainian president also commented on the negotiations taking place in Minsk today. He said that he didn’t understand why it was necessary to wait for a week, until September 1, before cease-fire implementation.
“As the president of Ukraine I am interested in an immediate cease-fire. Because it is unknown how many lives the wait until September 1 will coast for us. What is the reason for us to wait a week for the cease-fire? A direct obligation of Russia is the cease-fire regime starting February 15,” said Poroshenko.President Petro Poroshenko in Brussels stressed that Russia needs to abide by the Minsk agreements and immediately implement the cease-fire in Donbas.