NWS Nieuws & Achtergronden
Discussieer hier diepgaander over de actualiteiten.
Dat is goed nieuws. Tot nu toe sloten de posities van beide partijen een oplossing uit. Hopelijk is een vergelijkbare doorbraak ook mogelijk mbt tot het vredesplan.quote:
Op
The view from nowhere.
Eerst escaleert het conflict aan alle kanten. En daarna blijkt hoe weinig er nodig is voor een oplossing:quote:Separatists in Ukraine agree to ceasefire until June 27
Speaking after meeting a "contact group" which included a representative of the OSCE security watchdog, Boroday said:
"The consultation ended with authorities of the Luhansk and Donetsk Republics agreeing to maintain a ceasefire for their part ...until the 27th."
An unusual lack of armed incidents throughout Monday, making it the first non-violent day in the east for weeks, appeared to indicate that the rebels had begun to observe their truce earlier in the day.
Volodymyr Chepovy, an official of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, said that from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. no incidents of weapons use were recorded. "There were no attempts to seize administrative buildings or military points etc."
Slechts een paar mannen moeten het eens worden / besluiten dat het over is.
The view from nowhere.
Geen idee wie dat zijn.
[ Bericht 4% gewijzigd door deelnemer op 24-06-2014 00:42:31 ]
quote:Kyiv court issues arrest warrants for 11 leaders of anti-government movements in east Ukraine
Kyiv's Shevchenkivsky District Court has issued arrest warrants on suspicion of foundation of a terrorist organization for 11 leaders of the self-proclaimed "Donetsk People's Republic" and "Luhansk People's Republic" at the request of the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office, the office said on June 23.
Directe besprekingen met de rebellen gaan door.twitter:StateOfUkraine twitterde op maandag 23-06-2014 om 14:22:39 #Ukraine Security Service: RU/pro-RU who collected intelligence about UA ATO troops for so-called Republic of #Donetsk have been arrested. reageer retweet
quote:Separatists hold their fire in Ukraine’s east amid peace talks led by Kuchma in Donetsk
[...]
Former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma led the talks, which included head of the pro-Russian non-governmental organization and close Putin acquaintance Viktor Medvedchuk, Russian Ambassador to Ukraine Mikhail Zurabov, representative for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and chairman-in-office Heidi Tagliavini, self-proclaimed prime minister of the Donetsk People’s Republic Oleksandr Borodai, southeast movement leader Oleh Tsariov and representatives of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic.
Poroshenko previously said he would not hold talks with “terrorists.” Sending Kuchma as a mediator provided him with a way in which to conduct negotiations without the government officially sitting down at the table with separatist representatives.
Following the talks Borodai said his side would respect the cease-fire declared by Poroshenko. He also promised that the insurgents would release observers from the OSCE, whom separatists have held hostage for weeks.
Kuchma said that Ukraine’s government and separatist had agreed that the ceasefire is to remain in effect until 10 a.m. on June 27.
Tsariov said the peace negotiations would be followed by more peace talks.
“We suggested to the Ukrainian representatives that the next round of negotiations should be held in Sloviansk,” Tsariov told reporters, according to Interfax.
[ Bericht 4% gewijzigd door deelnemer op 24-06-2014 00:42:31 ]
The view from nowhere.
De grens tussen Rusland en Ukraine (Donbass)
twitter:MiddleEast_BRK twitterde op maandag 23-06-2014 om 21:06:49 #BreakingFootage of extreme damage after a militant mortar attack vs.the Ukr side of the Ukr-Rus border crossing https://t.co/TKBkmCdZyP reageer retweet
twitter:MiddleEast_BRK twitterde op maandag 23-06-2014 om 21:07:41 Now you know, why #Russia couldn't (ab)use this incident! Must have been an inferno on Ukr troops, while one mortar hit the Russian side. reageer retweet
twitter:MiddleEast_BRK twitterde op maandag 23-06-2014 om 21:14:33 Very interesting footage of the reinforced Ukrainian border and guards,organizing its defense.https://t.co/dwfvUgBTRe http://t.co/dBgsC1E9Ci reageer retweet
twitter:MiddleEast_BRK twitterde op maandag 23-06-2014 om 23:48:17 #Footage proves: Russian armed forces are hiding less than a kilometer from the border with #Ukraine. https://t.co/EV1KNpvj25 reageer retweet
The view from nowhere.
Overigens verwoordt deze video niet mijn visie, maar is wel interessant en met ondertitels in Engels.
[ Bericht 6% gewijzigd door Linkse_Boomknuffelaar op 24-06-2014 04:40:09 ]
Mensen De stad Lugansk vrezen het einde van het staakt het vuren, en gebruiken de tijdelijk onderbreking om te vertrekken.
The view from nowhere.
quote:Putin renounces right to send troops to Ukraine
In the March 1 resolution, the Federation Council had granted Putin the right to "use the Russian Federation's Armed Forces on the territory of Ukraine until the social and political situation in that country normalises".
President Vladimir Putin asked Russia's upper house on Tuesday to revoke the right it had granted him to order a military intervention in Ukraine in defence of Russian-speakers there, the Kremlin said in a statement.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko called it a "first practical step" following Putin's statement of support last weekend for Poroshenko's peace plan for eastern Ukraine. [Reuters]
quote:Poroshenko invites Russia to send inspectors to Ukraine to monitor ceasefire
KIEV, June 24 /ITAR-TASS/. President Pyotr Poroshenko has officially invited Russia to send inspectors to the Special Monitoring Mission of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Ukraine to confirm that Kiev holds its promise to cease fire in the south-east of the country.
Poroshenko announced this during a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday, June 23.
quote:Refuge centers now home to 14,000 fleeing Ukraine
MOSCOW, June 24. /ITAR-TASS/.
Refugees streaming from war-torn Ukraine and accommodated at temporary centers have swelled by almost 1,000 in number over the past 24 hours, Russian sources report.
More than 14,000 people are being sheltered, a representative of the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations told ITAR-TASS on Tuesday.
[ Bericht 12% gewijzigd door deelnemer op 24-06-2014 16:35:22 ]
The view from nowhere.
Het staakt het vuren
[ Bericht 44% gewijzigd door deelnemer op 24-06-2014 20:51:43 ]
quote:Poroshenko, Steinmeier discuss new intl security format for Ukraine - presidential press service
President Petro Poroshenko has held talks with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on the introduction of a new international security format with guarantees for Ukraine.
"The parties discussed the necessity to introduce a new security format with effective guarantees for Ukraine," the presidential press service said.
Poroshenko said that the ceasefire is violated by the other side. "Eight incidents were reported last night. One serviceman was killed and seven others were wounded," he said.
quote:ATO Spokesman Vladislav Seleznev Says Separatists Violating Ceasefire
According to Vladislav Seleznev (spokesman for ATO):
"The militants opened fire from settlements bordering Slavyansk. During the bombardment they used AGS-17 automatic and rifle-mounted grenade launchers, and twice shelled the checkpoint with mortars.
A checkpoint on the road from Severodonetsk to Starobelsk was fired on last night by separatists with small arms. The attack was repelled by returning fire."
quote:Ukraine military forces shoot at south-east settlement, woman killed in shootout
LUHANSK, June 24. /ITAR-TASS/.
Ukrainian military forces shot at the settlement of Privolye near the city of Lisichansk in east Ukraines Luhansk Region overnight to Tuesday. A woman was killed in the shootout.
An electric power substation was destroyed that resulted in a halt to underground waters pumping from a neighboring coalmine that was consequently flooded. Coalminers managed to get out from the mine before the flood.
quote:Russian TV journalists come under mortar fire in eastern Ukraine
MOSCOW, June 24. /ITAR-TASS/.
A camera crew of Russias Channel One has come under mortar fire near the besieged city of Sloviansk in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region; no journalists have been injured, the TV channels website reports on Tuesday. It is unclear who opened fire and whether there were any casualties or destruction, it added.
twitter:MiddleEast_BRK twitterde op dinsdag 24-06-2014 om 09:04:29 #Breaking Ukrainian state border police says, it does NOT anymore control the border crossing in #Izvarino after a heavy mortar attack on Fri reageer retweet
twitter:EuromaidanPR twitterde op dinsdag 24-06-2014 om 17:17:22 The Cabinet of the Ministries of #Ukraine stated,border checkpoint "Izvaryne" is closedhttp://t.co/MUbS7ATjrs http://t.co/ZWXG1hNRmd | EMPR reageer retweet
The Cabinet of the Ministries of quote:Ukraines military shell Semyonovka village near Sloviansk despite ceasefire
SLOVIANSK, June 24. /ITAR-TASS/. Ukraines military again opened artillery fire on the village of Semyonovka near the town of Sloviansk in east Ukraine, despite a ceasefire declared by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, local self-defense forces said on Tuesday.
The Ukrainian military also delivered mortar fire during last night, the self-defense militia said.
twitter:lennutrajektoor twitterde op dinsdag 24-06-2014 om 10:36:48 6:00 terrorists in #Kramatorks shelled the airfield over an hour. So much of ceasefire. #Ukraine reageer retweet
6:00 terrorists in quote:Donetsk railway damaged by blasts in two places
A single-track section of the Donetsk Railway was damaged in two places between the stations Kondrashevska Nova and Horodniy (959 km) at 0530 on Tuesday and between the stations Krasnozerivka and Horodniy at 0600 on Tuesday. Three and one meters of the railway were damaged, respectively.
twitter:Ukroblogger twitterde op dinsdag 24-06-2014 om 17:57:32 https://t.co/zYfkFe4B7C Trail derailments latest trend in #Russia's Soviet-partisan-glory-style warfare in #Ukraine? http://t.co/GQk0tBHS9s reageer retweet
twitter:EuromaidanPR twitterde op dinsdag 24-06-2014 om 10:33:48 Railway bridge pillars in Novodanylivka, #Zaporizhzhia region were blasted by unknown. http://t.co/qH5SM4UkVB |EMPR http://t.co/Qs5twte7JY reageer retweet
[ Bericht 44% gewijzigd door deelnemer op 24-06-2014 20:51:43 ]
The view from nowhere.
Report of Downed Ukrainian Helicopter Near Slavyansk
Ukrainska Pravda reports (translated by The Interpreter):
He reports that the helicopters was shot down by separatist fighters using MANPADS.
According to preliminary reports, 9 servicemen were killed, including the 3 crew members.
Ukrainska Pravda reports (translated by The Interpreter):
Dmytro Tymchuk of Information Resistance has posted more information on the downing of the Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter on Karachun hill near Slavyansk.quote:A Ukrainian Mi-8 military aircraft has been shot down on Karachun hill outside Slavyansk by terrorists.
This was reported to Ukrainska Pravda by National Guard troops, who are stationed at one of the checkpoints near the town.
According to them, the helicopter was shot down while taking off from the hill.
One of the sources added that the site from which the helicopter had been fired on had been identified.
Military vehicles have been sent there.
He reports that the helicopters was shot down by separatist fighters using MANPADS.
According to preliminary reports, 9 servicemen were killed, including the 3 crew members.
The view from nowhere.
twitter:MiddleEast_BRK twitterde op dinsdag 24-06-2014 om 11:46:26 Ukraine's MIA says,it fired 17.000 people for violating their oath over the last months!... Guess,including all Donetsk/Luhansk city police. reageer retweet
twitter:EuromaidanPR twitterde op dinsdag 24-06-2014 om 09:05:21 #Ukraine commander: Enemies know all of our moves in advance. Our military leadership is betraying us http://t.co/wTTqvT2UxC @StateOfUkraine reageer retweet
quote:Commando "Aydar" ervan overtuigd dat de leiding van ATO verraders zijn
De bataljonscommandant van Batallion Aidar, Sergei Melnychuk denkt dat de leiding van de anti-terroristische operatie verraders zijn.
"Ik ben ervan overtuigd dat de leiding van de ATO verraad pleegt. Omdat mensen die we gevangen nemen ons uitlachen en ons vertellen dat "we elke vlucht van je vliegtuigen, elke vlucht van je helikopters kennen, we weten al je instructies." "Wanneer er gebombardeerd wordt of andere acties, gaan we even weg van de positie en komen daarna weer terug".
Zoals u weet, is tijdens de tijdelijke onderzoekscommissie BP toegeven, dat een van de oorzaken van de vernietiging van de IL-76 in Lugansk verraad op het hoogste niveau kan zijn.
twitter:EuromaidanPR twitterde op dinsdag 24-06-2014 om 11:37:18 "#Terrorists know everything", Commander of #ukrainian battalion "Aidar" reportshttp://t.co/ahKkpXNJuA http://t.co/ULEcZtRv9X | EMPR News reageer retweet
quote:Aidar commander: Terrorists know everything
KYIV, June 24 /Ukrinform/.
The commander of the Aidar territorial defense battalion, Serhiy Melnychuk, has said he is confident that there are traitors in the leadership of the anti-terrorist operation (ATO).
He said this on the Freedom of Speech program on the ICTV television channel, the Ukrainska Pravda online newspaper reported.
"I am confident that there is betrayal in the ATO. The prisoners that we capture laugh and say that 'we know each flight of your plane, each flight of your helicopter, and we know all your instructions.'"
"When there are bombings or other events, we simply move away from our positions and then come back," Melnychuk quoted militants as saying and added:" There is a complete leak of information. The enemy knows everything."
An ad hoc investigative parliamentary commission admits that a reason for the destruction of an Il-76 plane near Luhansk could be a betrayal in the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
twitter:StateOfUkraine twitterde op dinsdag 24-06-2014 om 21:26:35 Myagchenkov: UA general leading mil operations has brother in Russian military, another UA general is friends with Russian defense minister reageer retweet
[ Bericht 16% gewijzigd door deelnemer op 25-06-2014 00:06:56 ]
The view from nowhere.
VN: ruim vierhonderd doden Oost-Oekrane
Tussen 15 april en 20 juni zijn in het oosten van Oekrane vermoedelijk 423 mensen om het leven gekomen. Dat hebben de Verenigde Naties dinsdag gezegd.
Assistent-secretaris-generaal voor Mensenrechten Ivan Simonovic zei dinsdag in de Veiligheidsraad dat het geschatte aantal doden is gebaseerd op informatie uit officile bronnen. Onder de slachtoffers zijn zowel burgers als militairen.
De afgelopen twee weken is bovendien het aantal Oekraners dat hun huis is ontvlucht verdubbeld. In de regio’s Donetsk en Loehansk zijn ruim vijftienduizend mensen ontheemd geraakt. In heel Oekrane gaat het om meer dan 46 duizend mensen. Veel mensen ontvluchten hun huis uit angst of vanwege de slechte economische omstandigheden.
Tussen 15 april en 20 juni zijn in het oosten van Oekrane vermoedelijk 423 mensen om het leven gekomen. Dat hebben de Verenigde Naties dinsdag gezegd.
Assistent-secretaris-generaal voor Mensenrechten Ivan Simonovic zei dinsdag in de Veiligheidsraad dat het geschatte aantal doden is gebaseerd op informatie uit officile bronnen. Onder de slachtoffers zijn zowel burgers als militairen.
De afgelopen twee weken is bovendien het aantal Oekraners dat hun huis is ontvlucht verdubbeld. In de regio’s Donetsk en Loehansk zijn ruim vijftienduizend mensen ontheemd geraakt. In heel Oekrane gaat het om meer dan 46 duizend mensen. Veel mensen ontvluchten hun huis uit angst of vanwege de slechte economische omstandigheden.
The view from nowhere.
De Krim
twitter:EuromaidanPR twitterde op dinsdag 24-06-2014 om 11:29:42 Unemployment rate in #Crimea makes 30%, Anatoly Zasoba reports http://t.co/tUP0Xm9FwV @uacrisis | EMPR News #Ukraine reageer retweet
twitter:EuromaidanPR twitterde op dinsdag 24-06-2014 om 12:56:08 Madrasah in Kolchugino, #Crimea was searched by men in camouflage, deputy director taken away. Krym_SOS FB |EMPR http://t.co/ZLKCg4Pfrp reageer retweet
The view from nowhere.
Vandaag 16 doden en 5 gewonden aan Oekraiense zijde.
[ Bericht 3% gewijzigd door deelnemer op 24-06-2014 22:53:11 ]
twitter:lennutrajektoor twitterde op dinsdag 24-06-2014 om 19:00:38 June 24 #ATO loss by 20:00 14 KIA, 5 WIA. Includes one shot BG discovered today. reageer retweet
twitter:lennutrajektoor twitterde op dinsdag 24-06-2014 om 19:10:17 On an #ATO CP as of result of shooting 2 soldiers are killed. That makes June 24 death toll on 16 KIA, 5 WIA. reageer retweet
Minder kan ook ( 11 doden en 3 gewonden).twitter:lennutrajektoor twitterde op dinsdag 24-06-2014 om 20:40:56 Poroshenko announced he not excludes early suspension on ceasefire. All units in #Donetsk / #Luhansk got orders open fire on ANY attempts. reageer retweet
twitter:MiddleEast_BRK twitterde op dinsdag 24-06-2014 om 22:29:40 11 Ukr soldiers were killed and 3 wounded by (pro-)Russian militants today. We are at day 4 of 8 of the "ceasefire".#stopUAceasefireNOW reageer retweet
twitter:MiddleEast_BRK twitterde op dinsdag 24-06-2014 om 22:31:53 #BreakingNews After a meeting with the NSC, the Ukr. president gave the order to "open fire without hesitation in #response to terrorists." reageer retweet
[ Bericht 3% gewijzigd door deelnemer op 24-06-2014 22:53:11 ]
The view from nowhere.
twitter:StateOfUkraine twitterde op dinsdag 24-06-2014 om 21:14:51 Tymchuk: in #Sloviansk #Ukraine Russian/pro-RU forces are attacking 3 UA positions & preparing to storm UA TV tower outpost overlooking city reageer retweet
twitter:AndrijUKR twitterde op dinsdag 24-06-2014 om 23:04:28 @MiddleEast_BRK another railroad near Debaltseve Blown up reageer retweet
@MiddleEast_BRK another railroad near Debaltseve Blown up twitter:EuromaidanPR twitterde op dinsdag 24-06-2014 om 22:17:07 "#Donetsk-" & "#Lugansk ppl's republics" united into the "Union of ppl's republics", DPR rep. http://t.co/r1uk5RxeDr |EMPR reageer retweet
[ Bericht 20% gewijzigd door deelnemer op 25-06-2014 00:47:15 ]
The view from nowhere.
Austria defies US, EU over South Stream during Putin visit
Austria's OMV and Russia's Gazprom have signed a deal for the Austrian section of the controversial South Stream gas pipeline that bypasses Ukraine. Austria's president, Heinz Fischer, has rejected US and EU criticism.
[...]
US, EU concerns
South Stream, which will cost an estimated $40 billion (29.4 billion euros), is designed to carry Russian gas to the center of Europe. Russia currently supplies a third of Europe's gas. The pipeline bypasses the current transit route through Ukraine and would make Europe even more dependent on Russian gas, critics say.
The EU Commission says South Stream as it stands does not comply with EU competition law because it offers no access to third parties. The EU also objects to the fact that Gazprom will control both the pipeline itself and the gas supply.
The pipeline will stretch across Russia, under the Black Sea and then through Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary and Slovenia to Austria.
Gazprom's partners for the offshore part of the project are Italy's ENI, Germany's Wintershall Holding and France's EDF.
Austria's OMV and Russia's Gazprom have signed a deal for the Austrian section of the controversial South Stream gas pipeline that bypasses Ukraine. Austria's president, Heinz Fischer, has rejected US and EU criticism.
[...]
US, EU concerns
South Stream, which will cost an estimated $40 billion (29.4 billion euros), is designed to carry Russian gas to the center of Europe. Russia currently supplies a third of Europe's gas. The pipeline bypasses the current transit route through Ukraine and would make Europe even more dependent on Russian gas, critics say.
The EU Commission says South Stream as it stands does not comply with EU competition law because it offers no access to third parties. The EU also objects to the fact that Gazprom will control both the pipeline itself and the gas supply.
The pipeline will stretch across Russia, under the Black Sea and then through Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary and Slovenia to Austria.
Gazprom's partners for the offshore part of the project are Italy's ENI, Germany's Wintershall Holding and France's EDF.
The view from nowhere.
Gisteren, 24 juni.
Porosjenko dreigt met afblazen staakt-het-vuren Oekrane
De Oekraense president Petro Porosjenko heeft gisteren gedreigd de wapenstilstand in het oosten van Oekrane vroegtijdig af te blazen omdat pro-Russische separatisten doorgaan met hun gewapende acties.
Porosjenko zei dit nadat opstandelingen bij Slavjansk een helikopter van het Oekraense leger hadden neergehaald, waarbij negen inzittenden om het leven kwamen. Maandag had een rebellenleider nog toegezegd het bestand te zullen naleven.
Porosjenko kondigde de wapenstilstand vrijdag aan in het kader van een plan om een oplossing te zoeken voor het twee maanden durende conflict in het oosten van Oekrane. De bedoeling was dat het bestand in ieder geval een week zou duren. Volgens Porosjenko hebben de separatisten sinds de afkondiging van het bestand zeker 35 keer stellingen van Oekraense regeringstroepen beschoten.
Porosjenko dreigt met afblazen staakt-het-vuren Oekrane
De Oekraense president Petro Porosjenko heeft gisteren gedreigd de wapenstilstand in het oosten van Oekrane vroegtijdig af te blazen omdat pro-Russische separatisten doorgaan met hun gewapende acties.
Porosjenko zei dit nadat opstandelingen bij Slavjansk een helikopter van het Oekraense leger hadden neergehaald, waarbij negen inzittenden om het leven kwamen. Maandag had een rebellenleider nog toegezegd het bestand te zullen naleven.
Porosjenko kondigde de wapenstilstand vrijdag aan in het kader van een plan om een oplossing te zoeken voor het twee maanden durende conflict in het oosten van Oekrane. De bedoeling was dat het bestand in ieder geval een week zou duren. Volgens Porosjenko hebben de separatisten sinds de afkondiging van het bestand zeker 35 keer stellingen van Oekraense regeringstroepen beschoten.
The view from nowhere.
http://live.aljazeera.com/Event/Ukraine_liveblog/119560056
International efforts to save Ukraine's fragile ceasefire are set to intensify on Wednesday as Kiev threatens to scrap the truce after pro-Russian rebels downed an army helicopter.
Poroshenko said he hoped to discuss the latest incident with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a teleconference on Wednesday that would also be joined by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande.
Meanwhile US Secretary of State John Kerry will attend NATO talks in Brussels which will be "very, very focused on the situation in Ukraine," a US official said. [AFP]
International efforts to save Ukraine's fragile ceasefire are set to intensify on Wednesday as Kiev threatens to scrap the truce after pro-Russian rebels downed an army helicopter.
Poroshenko said he hoped to discuss the latest incident with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a teleconference on Wednesday that would also be joined by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande.
Meanwhile US Secretary of State John Kerry will attend NATO talks in Brussels which will be "very, very focused on the situation in Ukraine," a US official said. [AFP]
The view from nowhere.
NATO dashes Georgia, Montenegro membership hopes
(Reuters) - NATO will not approve a formal step to membership for Georgia at its summit in Britain in September and will delay taking a decision on whether to admit Montenegro until next year, NATO officials said on Wednesday.
NATO members have agreed in principle to draw up a substantive package of cooperation with Georgia that would "help it come closer to NATO", Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told reporters during a meeting of alliance foreign ministers.
But that falls short of an invitation to join NATO's Membership Action Plan - a formal step towards NATO membership - that Georgia had hoped for.
The question of whether to grant Georgia a NATO Membership Action Plan has been highly controversial since it split the alliance at a 2008 Bucharest summit.
Months afterwards, Russia fought a five-day war with Georgia and later recognised two breakaway provinces as independent nations.
That has made many NATO allies wary of welcoming Georgia into the alliance as that would mean NATO could be obliged to come to its defence in the event of another war with Russia.
Montenegro's hopes of receiving an invitation to join the alliance at the September summit in Wales were also dashed.
"On Montenegro, we will open intensified and focused talks, and we will assess at the latest by the end of 2015 whether to invite Montenegro to join the alliance," Rasmussen said.
(Reuters) - NATO will not approve a formal step to membership for Georgia at its summit in Britain in September and will delay taking a decision on whether to admit Montenegro until next year, NATO officials said on Wednesday.
NATO members have agreed in principle to draw up a substantive package of cooperation with Georgia that would "help it come closer to NATO", Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told reporters during a meeting of alliance foreign ministers.
But that falls short of an invitation to join NATO's Membership Action Plan - a formal step towards NATO membership - that Georgia had hoped for.
The question of whether to grant Georgia a NATO Membership Action Plan has been highly controversial since it split the alliance at a 2008 Bucharest summit.
Months afterwards, Russia fought a five-day war with Georgia and later recognised two breakaway provinces as independent nations.
That has made many NATO allies wary of welcoming Georgia into the alliance as that would mean NATO could be obliged to come to its defence in the event of another war with Russia.
Montenegro's hopes of receiving an invitation to join the alliance at the September summit in Wales were also dashed.
"On Montenegro, we will open intensified and focused talks, and we will assess at the latest by the end of 2015 whether to invite Montenegro to join the alliance," Rasmussen said.
The view from nowhere.
Donetsk leader: Kiev sabotages ceasefire agreements
DONETSK, June 25, 1:01 /ITAR-TASS/. Kiev in fact sabotages the ceasefire agreements with Ukraine's south-eastern regions, a leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), Denis Pushilin, told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.
“Today after the consultations were over, the [Ukrainian] military continued shelling [the village of] Semenovka [on the outskirts of the city of Slaviansk],” Pushilin, who chairs the presidium of the DPR's Supreme Council, said. “About five people were killed there and a convoy of heavy armoured vehicles was heading towards the city of Donetsk from the area of Donetsk’s airport.”
“And it is just a short list of aggressive activities of the occupation troops in our territory,” he said.
DONETSK, June 25, 1:01 /ITAR-TASS/. Kiev in fact sabotages the ceasefire agreements with Ukraine's south-eastern regions, a leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), Denis Pushilin, told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.
“Today after the consultations were over, the [Ukrainian] military continued shelling [the village of] Semenovka [on the outskirts of the city of Slaviansk],” Pushilin, who chairs the presidium of the DPR's Supreme Council, said. “About five people were killed there and a convoy of heavy armoured vehicles was heading towards the city of Donetsk from the area of Donetsk’s airport.”
“And it is just a short list of aggressive activities of the occupation troops in our territory,” he said.
The view from nowhere.
Draft changes to Ukrainian Constitution on decentralization of power will be submitted to Rada on June 26 - Poroshenko
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said the draft changes to the Ukrainian Constitution dealing with the decentralization of power will be submitted to the parliament on June 26.
Poroshenko said he is hoping that the parliament will adopt the changes next week. "Tomorrow, I am scheduled to visit Strasbourg and speak in PACE to present our new changes to the Constitution," the president said.
Poroshenko earlier said the draft changes to the Constitution envision "a key element of the peace plan: decentralization of power, on which the Ukrainian government has done a lot of work and whose main policies were developed and approved by me."
Ukrainian will remain sole state and constitutional language in Ukraine - Poroshenko
Poroshenko said:
[ Bericht 9% gewijzigd door deelnemer op 25-06-2014 11:51:39 ]
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said the draft changes to the Ukrainian Constitution dealing with the decentralization of power will be submitted to the parliament on June 26.
Poroshenko said he is hoping that the parliament will adopt the changes next week. "Tomorrow, I am scheduled to visit Strasbourg and speak in PACE to present our new changes to the Constitution," the president said.
Poroshenko earlier said the draft changes to the Constitution envision "a key element of the peace plan: decentralization of power, on which the Ukrainian government has done a lot of work and whose main policies were developed and approved by me."
Ukrainian will remain sole state and constitutional language in Ukraine - Poroshenko
Poroshenko said:
quote:Ukrainian was, is and will be the only state and constitutional language of Ukrain. Local communities will have the full right to use all other languages, including Russian, on a par with Ukrainian.
[ Bericht 9% gewijzigd door deelnemer op 25-06-2014 11:51:39 ]
The view from nowhere.
Ukrainian Security Service officers die as helicopter is shot down in Sloviansk
The Ukrainian Security Service has confirmed that the Mil Mi-8 helicopter shot down in Sloviansk was carrying its officers:
The Ukrainian Security Service has confirmed that the Mil Mi-8 helicopter shot down in Sloviansk was carrying its officers:
quote:The helicopter crash killed four employees of the Ukrainian Security Service - three officers and one warrant officer.
The view from nowhere.
Aydar Batallion ready to fight even as unit’s future remains unclear
The Aydar Battalion, known for an unauthorized clash with terrorists in Luhansk on June 17, is under threat of disbandment, battalion commander Serhiy Melnychuk said on June 23 in Kyiv.
National Security and Defense Council Secretary Andriy Parubiy said on June 23 that information about disbandment of the battalion was false and President Petro Poroshenko called the situation with Aydar a "misunderstanding."
However, as of 11 a.m. of June 24 there was no official order to prolong the battalion’s financing, Melnychuk said. “The officials who came to demand Aydar disbandment are still at my office, waiting for a written order,” Melnychuk told the Kyiv Post.
The commander also denied that the attack was initiated by Aydar. “The ministry was misinformed. We didn’t just initiate this fight. It was a counterattack after our soldiers were trapped by separatists.”
But whether as part of the Ukrainian army or not, Melnychuk says the unit will fight.
“We will help restore functioning of infrastructure as we did till now, watch the order on the streets and protect our families from terrorists. We will become partisans, but we won’t leave Luhansk,” he said.
[ Bericht 24% gewijzigd door deelnemer op 25-06-2014 14:09:22 ]
The Aydar Battalion, known for an unauthorized clash with terrorists in Luhansk on June 17, is under threat of disbandment, battalion commander Serhiy Melnychuk said on June 23 in Kyiv.
National Security and Defense Council Secretary Andriy Parubiy said on June 23 that information about disbandment of the battalion was false and President Petro Poroshenko called the situation with Aydar a "misunderstanding."
However, as of 11 a.m. of June 24 there was no official order to prolong the battalion’s financing, Melnychuk said. “The officials who came to demand Aydar disbandment are still at my office, waiting for a written order,” Melnychuk told the Kyiv Post.
The commander also denied that the attack was initiated by Aydar. “The ministry was misinformed. We didn’t just initiate this fight. It was a counterattack after our soldiers were trapped by separatists.”
But whether as part of the Ukrainian army or not, Melnychuk says the unit will fight.
“We will help restore functioning of infrastructure as we did till now, watch the order on the streets and protect our families from terrorists. We will become partisans, but we won’t leave Luhansk,” he said.
twitter:lennutrajektoor twitterde op woensdag 25-06-2014 om 10:39:23 WOW! Just now it emerged btln "#Aidar" DID receive command to battle, they acted per orders, not disobeyed. I can't get this country. reageer retweet
[ Bericht 24% gewijzigd door deelnemer op 25-06-2014 14:09:22 ]
The view from nowhere.
quote:Poroshenko sees Donetsk meeting as first step towards peace dialogue
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko sees the Donetsk meeting of June 23 as the first step towards a peace dialogue with the east.
quote:Federation Council grants Putin's request to revoke permission to use Russian army in Ukraine
Moscow - The Federation Council revoked on Wednesday, June 25 its permission to use the Russian army in Ukraine.
quote:Russian senator: Russia should promote cessation of conflict in Ukraine
Moscow - Russia should do everything possible to help end the military conflict in southeastern Ukraine, Vladimir Dzhabarov, first deputy chairman of the Russian Federation Council's international affairs committee, said.
quote:Over 10 prisoners-of-war were exchanged during ceasefire
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry exchanged more than ten prisoners-of-war held by members of illegal armed groups during the ceasefire in Donbas, acting Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Koval said.
quote:Self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic promises to release one group of OSCE monitors
Moscow - The militiamen in Siverodonetsk, the Luhansk region, may release a group of four OSCE monitors in the near future, Andriy Purhin, the first deputy prime minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, told Interfax.
quote:Major works on demarcation of Ukrainian-Russian border in Donetsk and Luhansk regions could be fulfilled by late 2014
The State Agency for Land Resources of Ukraine as a part of its competence believes that it is possible to carry out the major part of the work on the demarcation of around 1,600 kilometers of the Ukrainian-Russian border in Donetsk and Luhansk regions by late 2014.
[ Bericht 25% gewijzigd door deelnemer op 25-06-2014 12:24:41 ]
The view from nowhere.
