Good morning. We'll start the live blog today with an item from our news desk on the latest diplomatic moves concerning Ukraine:
The Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to meeting with his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama when he visits the United Nations later this month.
"President Putin is always open to dialogue, especially with his colleague President Obama," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on September 15.
But while Putin would like to have a meeting, none has been scheduled, he said.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Obama and Putin might meet in New York, though he could not confirm any actual plans.
"Certainly, there is the possibility that the two leaders could meet while they're there, because they are likely to be there at the same time," he said.
Putin is due to arrive in New York on September 28 to address the UN General Assembly.
Obama and Putin last met in November 2014 at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Beijing.
The Ukraine conflict that erupted last year has led to the worst stand-off in U.S.-Russian relations since the Cold War.
(AFP, TASS)
We are now closing the live blog for today. Until we resume again tomorrow, you can keep up with all our ongoing Ukraine coverage here.
RFE/RL has also issued its own photo gallery of the Jewish New Year in Ukraine:
Hasidic Jews from around the world gathered in the Ukrainian city of Uman to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Uman is a pilgrimage site and the burial place of Jewish spiritual leader Rebbe Nachman, a great grandson of the founder of Hasidism. (By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service)
Hasidic Jews Celebrate New Year In Ukraine