Crisis in Oekra�ne #120 De bevrijding van Oost-Oekraine

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ASLuhn twitterde op dinsdag 26-08-2014 om 15:19:52 Lukashenko plays peacemaker at Putin-Poroshenko talks. Belarus is the big winner in #Ukraine crisis http://t.co/O0DqAP2QI6 via @guardian #fb reageer retweet

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Belarus hopes to benefit as host of Ukraine-Russia talks
Regardless of whether talks produce results, they will help bring Minsk – and dictator Alexander Lukashenko – in from the cold

While expectations of a breakthrough at Tuesday's meeting between the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and his Ukrainian counterpart, Petro Poroshenko, are extremely low, there is one person hoping to benefit from the talks: the Belarusian president, Alexander Lukashenko.

This summer marks the 20th year in office for Lukashenko, who has long had a reputation as Europe's last dictator. But the negotiations in Minsk – the first meeting between the two presidents since a 15-minute conversation in Normandy in June – will allow him to wear another hat, that of the peacemaker.

Lukashenko's iron-fisted internal politics haven't changed but he has always remained open to overtures from the west despite his close ties to Russia, said Fyodor Lukyanov, editor of the journal Russia in Global Affairs and chairman of the Council on Foreign and Defence policy.

"The geopolitical situation has changed and now Lukashenko doesn't seem as awful as he did a year ago," Lukyanov said. Because of its relatively neutral position with regard to both Russia and Ukraine, Belarus has become essentially the only place where leaders from both sides can meet without losing face.

"Being a country that's connected with Russia but can preserve fairly independent politics makes Belarus an important player between Ukraine, the EU and Russia," Lukyanov said. "The EU is forced to relate to [Lukashenko] differently."

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A 24-Step Plan to Resolve the Ukraine Crisis
Meeting in Finland, a group of Americans and Russians develops an agenda for peace

Elements of an Enduring, Verifiable Ceasefire

Ceasefire and ceasefire-monitoring by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
Formation and deployment of a UN-authorized peacekeeping mission under Chapter 7 of the UN charter
Withdrawal of regular Russian and Ukrainian army units to an agreed distance from conflict zones
Removal of Ukrainian National Guard units from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions
Establishment of effective border control and halt of illegal trans-border transit of military equipment and personnel
Agreed limits on significant armed-forces concentration in the vicinity of the Russian-Ukrainian border
Confidence-building measures under OSCE auspices
Verified demilitarization of illegal armed groups on both sides under OSCE auspices
Formation of new Ukrainian law-enforcement forces in the conflict zone

Humanitarian and Legal Issues

Return of and humanitarian assistance for refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs)
Compensation for property losses and reconstruction of housing and commercial property
Credible investigation of crimes committed during the crisis
Amnesty for combatants not involved in war crimes during the hostilities

Economic Relations

Preservation of Russian-Ukrainian economic relations, including defense-industry cooperation in view of the implementation of the EU-Ukraine Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) and other arrangements
Enhancement of energy-related infrastructure and transportation networks
International measures against illegal siphoning of gas transit
Mutual guarantees for current status of labor migrants

Social and Cultural Issues

Protection of the status of the Russian language and of traditional cultural ties between Russia and Ukraine
Free access to mass media and television, including Russian mass media and television

Crimea

Discussion of the settlement of legal issues pertaining to the status of Crimea
Guarantee of uninterrupted water and energy supplies
Protection of the rights of ethnic minorities
Discussion of access by Ukrainian companies to development of offshore oil and gas reserves

International Status of Ukraine

Mutual respect for the non-bloc status of Ukraine as stipulated by Ukrainian legislation

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Moscow Will Have to Respond to Kiev’s Association With EU – Putin
MINSK, August 26 (RIA Novosti) – Russia will have to take measures in response to Kiev’s implementation of the EU Association Agreement, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday.

The Russian president said Customs Union states will have to cancel Ukraine’s preferential regime in trade, in full compliance with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) free trade zone agreement and the World Trade Organization (WTO) regulations.

“We don’t want to discriminate anyone,” Putin added.

Putin also noted that the Russian economy might suffer a financial damage in excess of 100 billion rubles ($2.8 billion) as a result of Ukraine’s integration into the European Union, with the manufacturing industry and agriculture taking the hardest blow.

The Russian president also warned of the possible damage to the economies of Belarus and Kazakhstan, which share a common market with Russia.

Russia, alongside Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and EU countries, is participating in a multi-party meeting in Minsk that is expected to see the discussion of such issues as the crisis in Ukraine, the humanitarian aid, the refugees to Russia, the possibility of talks between the Ukrainian government and the eastern regions, in addition to Ukraine’s association agreement with the European Union.

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Draft Final Document of Ukraine-Customs Union-EU Meeting Ready – Belarusian Leader
MINSK, August 26 (RIA Novosti) – The meeting of the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan leaders with the president of Ukraine and European Union officials may lead to the signing of a final document, which has already been drafted, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Tuesday.

“We have a final document. I suggest discussing, improving and signing it,” the Belarusian leader said ahead of the meeting.

The meeting in Minsk is expected to become a ground where the high-profile officials from Russia, Ukraine, the European Union and other countries are expected to discuss such issues as the crisis in Ukraine, humanitarian aid, the flow of refugees to Russia, negotiations between Kiev and eastern Ukraine, as well as Ukraine’s integration into the European Union and the stabilization of the situation in the east of the country.

Hopes were raised that the meeting could provide an opportunity to de-escalate the Ukrainian crisis in a non-violent manner and kick-start the process of developing a real road map to ending the war.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, during a meeting with Lukashenko, expressed hope for bringing peace to Ukraine as a result of the Minsk talks and having more meetings of the kind in the future.

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HELSINKI — The Finnish Foreign Ministry says that the United States and Russia held secret talks over Ukraine in Finland in June.

Ministry spokesman Vesa Hakkinen told the AP that the ministry helped organize the meeting on the island of Boisto off the southern Finnish coast but declined to give more information.

Earlier this month, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto met President Vladimir Putin and traveled to Ukraine for talks with President Petro Poroshenko, leading to speculation that he was acting on behalf of the European Union.

Niinisto's office said Tuesday that he was not involved in the secret June talks between the U.S. and Russia.

twitter:

2111015 twitterde op dinsdag 26-08-2014 om 19:49:53 @NatVasilyevaAP reports #Poroshenko #Putin to hold private talks in #Minsk, Unconfirmed rumors fly that they've been cancelled. #Ukraine reageer retweet

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ria_novosti twitterde op dinsdag 26-08-2014 om 20:49:48 Ukrainian President suggests holding another meeting in Minsk in same format - Belarusian Prasident http://t.co/vkPqRD1vQK reageer retweet

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IrinaGalushkoRT twitterde op dinsdag 26-08-2014 om 20:35:36 #Poroshenko 's request to continue talks for 2nd day brought havoc to press-center #MinskMeeting reageer retweet

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Op dinsdag 26 augustus 2014 20:59 schreef Repelsteeltju het volgende:
Ik dacht net het laatste nieuws over Amerikaanse troepen in de Oekra�ne gevonden dan blijkt het informatie van maanden terug te zijn.

Nah dit was wat ik bij elkaar geschraapt had:

http://www.spiegel.de/pol(...)tisten-a-968745.html

Der Spiegel bericht dat Amerikaanse huurlingen van een telg van Blackwater genaamd Academi. In de Oekra�ne actief zijn of waren (mijn Duits is niet zo goed.) Kennelijk hebben zij het weer van de Bild am Sonntag die gelekte documenten van Amerikaanse veiligheidsdiensten heeft.

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ilyamuz twitterde op dinsdag 26-08-2014 om 21:27:56 #LIVE #BELARUS #PEACE #TALKS #BRKG #BREAKING #FLASH #UPD #RUSSIA #UKRAINE #WAR “@NatVasilyevaAP: Lavrov has just popped out for a smoke.” reageer retweet

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(U) SECRETARY CLINTON'S DECEMBER 9, 2009 MEETING WITH UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER PETRO POROSHENKO

7. (C) Secretary Clinton reiterated that the United States stood behind the Budapest Memorandum security assurances and that these assurances had not changed with the expiration of the START Treaty. She emphasized that the United States envisioned multiple pathways to NATO membership. The United States, however, had received mixed messages from Ukraine during its presidential campaign, and Ukraine's friends wondered whether Ukrainians really wanted NATO membership. The United States continued to support Ukraine's eventual membership in NATO, but the Secretary reminded Poroshenko that all aspirants must meet NATO standards. She noted that during the December 3 NATO-Ukraine Commission meeting, Allies commended Ukraine on the finalization of its first Annual National Program and urged Ukraine to make further progress through its 2010 program.

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WARSAW — The Croatian Ministry of Defense has announced plans to acquire 20 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from the US military, and provide 14 of its Mil Mi-8MTV-1 transport helos to Ukraine’s armed forces to support Kiev’s ongoing military operation against Russia-backed separatists in the country’s eastern part.

The initiative was discussed by Croatian government officials and US congressmen in Zagreb this month, reported local daily Jutarnji List.

The potential acquisition of Black Hawks by Croatia and the related supply of transport helos to Ukraine will be further discussed in September, when Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, is scheduled to visit Croatia to attend a military exercise in Slunj.

Under the plan, in addition to the copters, the US military will provide the Croatian Air Force with logistics support, training for pilots and technicians, as well as spare parts for the aircraft.

Croatia’s armed forces operate a helo fleet consisting of 14 Mi-8MTV-1 helos and 10 Mi-171Sh copters. The aircraft are a design of Russia’s Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant. The copters were built at state-run Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant and the Kazan Helicopters facility, which are part of the Russian Helicopters group.

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Nato plans east European bases to counter Russian threat

Nato is to deploy its forces at new bases in eastern Europe for the first time, in response to the Ukraine crisis and in an attempt to deter Vladimir Putin from causing trouble in the former Soviet Baltic republics, according to its secretary general.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the organisations's summit in Cardiff next week would overcome divisions within the alliance and agree to new deployments on Russia's borders – a move certain to trigger a strong reaction from Moscow.

He also outlined moves to boost Ukraine's security, "modernise" its armed forces and help the country counter the threat from Russia.

Rasmussen said: "We will adopt what we call a readiness action plan with the aim to be able to act swiftly in this completely new security environment in Europe. We have something already called the Nato response force, whose purpose is to be able to be deployed rapidly if needed. Now it's our intention to develop what I would call a spearhead within that response force at very, very high readiness.

"In order to be able to provide such rapid reinforcements you also need some reception facilities in host nations. So it will involve the pre-positioning of supplies, of equipment, preparation of infrastructure, bases, headquarters. The bottom line is you will in the future see a more visible Nato presence in the east."

Poland and the three Baltic states have been alarmed at the perceived threat from Russia and have been clamouring for a stronger Nato presence in the region. They have criticised what they see as tokenism in the alliance's response so far.

But the issue of permanent Nato bases in east Europe is divisive. The French, Italians and Spanish are opposed while the Americans and British are supportive of the eastern European demands. The Germans, said a Nato official, were sitting on the fence, wary of provoking Russia.

The Cardiff summit is likely to come up with a formula, alliance sources said, which would avoid the term "permanent" for the new bases. But the impact will be to have constantly manned Nato facilities east of what used to be the iron curtain.

"It can be on a rotation basis, with a very high frequency. The point is that any potential aggressor should know that if they were to even think of an attack against a Nato ally they will meet not only soldiers from that specific country but they will meet Nato troops. This is what is important," said Rasmussen.

The only Nato headquarters east of the old cold war frontier is at Szczecin, on Poland's Baltic coast. Sources said this was likely to be the hub for the new deployments. Air and naval plans had been completed, but the issue of international land forces in the east was proving trickier to agree upon.

Asked whether there would be permanent international deployments under a Nato flag in east Europe, Rasmussen said: "The brief answer is yes. To prevent misunderstanding I use the phrase 'for as long as necessary'. Our eastern allies will be satisfied when they see what is actually in the readiness action plan."

Rasmussen said the forces could be deployed within hours.

Nato has clearly been caught napping by the Russian president's well prepared advances in Ukraine since February and is scrambling to come up with strategies for a new era in which Russia has gone from being a "strategic partner" of the alliance to a hostile actor perfecting what the alliance terms "hybrid warfare".

Rasmussen, whose term as Nato chief is coming to an end, said: "We have to face the reality that Russia does not consider Nato a partner. Russia is a nation that unfortunately for the first time since the second world war has grabbed land by force. Obviously we have to adapt to that." In an interview with the Guardian and five other European newspapers, he said: "It is safe to say that nobody had expected Russia to grab land by force. We also saw a remarkable change in the Russian military approach and capability since, for instance, the Georgian war in 2008.

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A source in the Russian Defense Ministry told the Russian news agency RIA Novosti that the servicemen were patrolling the Russian-Ukrainian border area "and most likely crossed (the border) by accident at an unequipped and unmarked zone, and as far as I know they didn't resist the armed forces of Ukraine."

The unnamed source added that Ukrainian soldiers have also crossed into Russia several times "but the Russian side did not make fuss about it and allowed them to return to Ukraine."

In Kiev, Ukraine rejected any claims that the Russian soldiers crossed the border by accident, calling the move part of a "special mission."

"If the elite troops of the Russian Armed Forces are not competent with topography and cannot find their way on the ground, then I have nothing to say about other troops and especially generals who send people to the east of Ukraine," Lysenko said, according to the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform.com.

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Op dinsdag 26 augustus 2014 23:51 schreef TweeGrolsch het volgende:
http://nieuwsuur.nl/video(...)ck-onder-poetin.html

Alles proberen ze onder het kleed te vegen. In Japan zie je dezelfde ontwikkeling momenteel, maar dan mbt tot wo2.

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Tsigalko refused to comment on the results of the meeting. But said that no talks tomorrow: "We're leaving"

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Poroshenko went into the meeting hoping to get Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan to back his peace plan for eastern Ukraine. However, Putin said in Minsk that the Ukraine crisis could be resolved only in a format that involved representatives of eastern Ukraine who were not invited to the summit.

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Poroshenko to seek ceasefire plan after "very tough" talks with Putin

MINSK (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko promised after late-night talks with Russia's Vladimir Putin to work on an urgent ceasefire plan to defuse the separatist conflict in the east of his former Soviet republic.

The first negotiations between the two leaders since June were described by Putin as positive, but he said it was not for Russia to get into the details of truce terms between the Kiev government and two rebel eastern regions.

"We didn't substantively discuss that, and we, Russia, can't substantively discuss conditions of a ceasefire, of agreements between Kiev, Donetsk and Luhansk. That's not our business, it's up to Ukraine itself," he told reporters early on Wednesday.

"We can only contribute to create a situation of trust for a possible, and in my view, extremely necessary, negotiation process."

Poroshenko, after two hours of one-to-one talks which he described as "very tough and complex", told reporters: "A roadmap will be prepared in order to achieve as soon as possible a ceasefire regime which absolutely must be bilateral in character."

Despite the positive tone, it remained unclear how the rebels would respond to the idea of a ceasefire, how soon it could be agreed and how long it might stick.

And with Putin insisting the details were an internal matter for Kiev, there was no sign of progress on a fundamental point of disagreement: Ukraine's charges that Moscow is sending arms and fighters to help the rebels, and Russia's adamant denials.

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Op woensdag 27 augustus 2014 01:50 schreef TweeGrolsch het volgende:

[..]

http://www.amnesty.nl/nie(...)-law-choking-freedom

Mja dat zal allemaal wel propaganda zijn. Poetin neemt deze maatregelen om de transparantie te vergroten natuurlijk.

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Op woensdag 27 augustus 2014 02:17 schreef TweeGrolsch het volgende:

[..]

Het is wel wat meer dan een label.

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Op woensdag 27 augustus 2014 02:33 schreef TweeGrolsch het volgende:

[..]

Je hebt wel door dat het een regime is in Rusland

Maar nee laat de rest maar zitten joh.

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(Reuters) - Pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine are guilty of a wide array of human rights abuses, including murder, abductions and torture, and are receiving a "steady supply" of sophisticated weapons and ammunition, according to a U.N. report obtained by Reuters.

The report by the 34-member U.N. monitoring mission, prepared by the U.N. human rights office in Geneva, also cited reports of human rights violations by Ukraine's military forces and special battalions run by the country's Interior Ministry.

The report said the death toll has risen to at least 2,200 since the fighting began in mid-April, with an average of at least 36 people killed daily. That is up from at least 2,086 on Aug. 10 and 1,129 on July 26.

"Armed groups continue to commit killings, abductions, physical and psychological torture, ill treatment, executions, murder and other serious human rights abuses," the report said, adding that violations were "disproportionately targeting civilians."

At least 468 people are believed to be held captive by rebels, according to the report, which covers the period from July 16 to Aug. 17.

"The Ukraine military has reported shelling from (Russian) territory ... and of the illegal use of landmines in Ukraine territory," the monitors said.

On the topic of the July 17 crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, the report said sporadic fighting has made it impossible for international investigators to assess the site.

The reported abuses by the Ukrainian military and special Interior Ministry battalions include "arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances and torture," the report said.

The U.N. missions of Russia and Ukraine did not have an immediate reaction to the report.

The conflict in Ukraine also shows no signs of abating.

Russian President Vladimir Putin urged his Ukrainian counterpart on Tuesday not to escalate an offensive against the rebels while Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko replied by demanding a halt to arms shipments from Russia to the separatists.

The U.N. monitors said the humanitarian situation has worsened as the Ukrainian military has tightened its blockade of rebel strongholds in Luhansk, Donetsk and Horlivka.

They said "government forces are obliged to ensure the unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief and goods essential to the survival of the population."

The rebels "are now professionally equipped and appear to benefit from a steady supply of sophisticated weapons and ammunition, enabling them to shoot down Ukrainian military aircraft such as helicopters, fighter jets and transport planes."

Russia denies Kiev's allegations that it is sending troops and armour to Ukraine. The U.N. report did not say who was sending arms to the rebels.

Fighting in eastern Ukraine broke out in April, a month after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula in response to the toppling of a pro-Moscow president in Kiev.

The monitors said that in Crimea, "harassment and discrimination continued against Ukrainian nationals, Crimean Tatar and other minorities."

"No serious attempts have been made to investigate allegations of human rights abuses committed by the so-called Crimean self-defence forces following the March 'referendum,'" it said.