Contents tagged with Donbas
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The UN says it has reliable information about Russian troop movements in the Donbas
The UN Representative for Human Rights, Ravina Shamdasani, stated that the organization has reliable information about Russian troop movements in Ukraine, The Voice of America reports.
“We have received credible reports of Russia’s military personnel movements across the border both to and from Ukraine. It contains heavy weapons as well. And the information is reliable,” the UN representative stated.
Moreover, the UN report regarding the human rights situation in the Donbas states that about 2 …
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Lavrov: OSCE monitors can be allowed to carry personal firearms
Moscow does not mind if OSCE observers carry personal firearms, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
“Russia is ready to offer a compromise and agree that the OSCE observers stationed at the front line in eastern Ukraine carry personal arms,” Lavrov said during an interview with the Russian “Saturday News” TV program.
“We said, as long as this helps the common objective, we are ready to give our consent that the group of observers who will be monitoring the contact line and the …
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Merkel's advisor: It's too early to lift sanctions on Russia
The discussion surrounding the cancellation of EU sanctions against Russia is premature, as stated by the German Chancellor's foreign policy advisor, Christoph Heusgen, Deutsche Welle reports. "If the current situation stays the same, I see no reason for sanctions not to be extended for another six months," Heusgen said.
He indicated that the removal of restrictive measures on Russia is connected to the implementation of the Minsk Agreements. At the same time, according to Heusgen, the Minsk …
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US State Deparment calls for ending human rights violations in eastern Ukraine
The US State Department has called on Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine to stop human rights abuses, while at the same time appealing to the Ukrainian Government to investigate cases of human rights violations that were referred to in a recent UN report.
This was stated by Deputy Spokesman of the State Department Mark Toner during a daily briefing on Friday.
"We once again call on the so-called authorities in the separatist-controlled areas to cease their human rights abuses, …
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Ukrainian President: New Russian special forces units arrived in the Donbas
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said that the detrioration of the situation on the front line in eastern Ukraine is due to the arrival of new Russian special forces units in the Donbass.
He made this statement at a press conference while answering a question about the reasons for the increased level of violence in the Donbas.
“The first reason is that according to [Ukrainian] intelligence, new units of spetsnaz [Russian special forces] have entered the territory. We know the names of the …
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Ukrainian Ambassador to OSCE:Russia continues to send weapons to the Donbas
Russia continues to provide the so-called Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic with weapons, and it is now important to regain control of the Russian-Ukrainian border to decrease the conflict situation in eastern Ukraine, according to the head of the Ukrainian delegation of the OSCE Forum, Ihor Prokopchuk.
“The situation at the uncontrolled border needs to be significantly improved in order for a decrease in conflict to occur. However, Russia continues to provide the Donbas …
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Zakharchenko: A referendum to join Russia would be 'premature'
During the "direct line with the people of the Donbas," the ‘DPR leader,’ Alexander Zakharchenko said he believes it is premature to hold a referendum on the accession of the self- proclaimed republic to the Russian Federation as it may disrupt the negotiations in Minsk.
"Can we address the issue of accession to Russia today if we all agree? Frankly speaking, I’m not sure. Has anybody asked Russia about that? We need both sides for reunification. Have we taken into account the political risks …
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OSCE: Separatists are firing from the roofs of houses in Donetsk
Donetsk residents have told observers of the Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) of the OSCE that separatists are using the roofs of their houses as platforms for attacks. Interfax-Ukraine reported that this was said by the First Deputy Head of the OSCE SMM in the Donbas, Alexander Hug.
“On Monday night, our observers reported 105 explosions north-west of Donetsk. Many of these explosions occurred in the Kuibyshevskyi district of the city. Our observers visited the area two days before the …
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Lavrov: Peacekeepers will never be in the Donbas
During an interview with Komsomolskaya Pravda, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that he categorically rejects Ukraine’s condition that security in eastern Ukraine be a precondition for elections in the Donbas.
"Now, security has suddenly become the main issue for Poroshenko, not only the ceasefire but also ensuring the presence of some security forces in the entire territory of the Donbas. I’d like to say: the Donbas will never agree to that," Lavrov stated.
According to the …
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Lavrov: Moscow's recognition of breakaway republics in eastern Ukraine would be 'counterproductive'
The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, has said that recognizing the independence of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR) in eastern Ukraine would be “counterproductive” at the moment. He said this during an interview with Komsomolskaya Pravda.
“Recognizing the independence of the DPR and the LPR is counterproductive. It will give the West a reason to stop pressuring Kiev to implement the Minsk II agreements,” TASS quoted Lavrov as saying.
Lavrov also …