This morning, the first trucks from the Russian convoy long delayed in light of an artillery barrage last week, crossed over into eastern Ukraine on Friday without the consent of the Ukrainian government and unaccompanied by observers from the Red Cross, which was one of the original stipulations of sending them into Ukraine in the…
A humanitarian convoy carrying refugees out of the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk was completely destroyed yesterday as it came under intense, unannounced rocket fire. The attack has quickly been attributed to pro-Russia separatists fighting in the region, though separatist groups have been quick to deny culpability and have even suggested that the attack never…
A meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin in Berlin has been arranged to discuss terms for ending the heavy fighting in eastern Ukraine, which has only intensified over the weekend. The meeting will be attended by German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and France’s Laurent Fabius. Russia has continuously…
A humanitarian aid operation led by the Red Cross will enter Eastern Ukraine impoverished and war-torn province of Luthansk this week. The operation, which is ostensibly headed up by the Red Cross and backed by Russia, the United States and the European Union, had previously been categorically denied by the Ukrainian government, which perceived it…
Russian authorities, in an escalating war of economic sanctions, have instituted a ban on importations of food and agricultural products from Europe and the United States, as well as some of their allies who supported sanctions against Russia. Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev announced that all beef, pork, fish, fruit, vegetable, and dairy products from the…
The size of Russian military forces gathered on Ukraine’s borders has doubled in recent days, increasing the possibility that a Russian military incursion into Ukraine is imminent. The rapid buildup of forces on the Russia-Ukraine border coincides directly with the Ukrainian military’s own siege of Donetsk, known as the last significant rebel stronghold within Ukraine.…
As the Ukrainian army has begun to encircle the separatist-held stronghold of Donetsk, separatists have begun to fortify the city and renewed calls to Russia to send troops to their aid. The 72 hour ceasefire agreed to on Friday has broken down, after accusations on both sides that neither kept their word. Separatist fighters have…
Ukrainian government officials called a one day cease fire to the area surrounding flight MH17, in Donetsk province, Ukraine. An international rescue team comprised of thirty unarmed Dutch police officers had made an attempt to retrieve their deceased, but it had been blocked as a result of renewed violence between rebels that inhabit the area…
The Foreign Ministers of the European Union, in addition to debating the ongoing nuclear talks with Iran, have been considering taking a stronger stance on the deteriorating diplomatic relations with Russia. The debate has mostly been over imposing punitive measures such as sanctions versus ensuring that an independent search of the crash site is undertaken…
Yesterday, a Malaysian airlines passenger jet crashed in rebel-controlled part of eastern Ukraine near Donetsk. Responses have been numerous and contradictory, some Ukrainian officials immediately pointed fingers at separatists, some at Russia itself, and others at “terrorists.” The plane was a Boeing 777, and according to statements released by US officials, the plane was shot…
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