A march-past of army, navy and airforce units and hardware in the capital was meant to highlight the capability of Ukraine’s military, which the government has had to overhaul since pro-Russian eastern separatists rose up against a new Western-backed leadership in 2014. He called for a new four-way meeting between France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine to try to resolve the crisis.
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Ukrainian authorities plan to seek worldwide arrest warrants for the officials, including Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and two of his deputies, Kremlin economic advisor Sergei Glazyev, and a former presidential envoy to Crimea, Mr. Lutsenko said.
The leaders of Russia, Germany and France have agreed to meet to discuss the situation in Ukraine on September 4-5 in China on the sidelines of the G20 summit, the Kremlin said on Tuesday.
Putin earlier this month said the alleged incidents in Crimea meant he would not hold a “senseless” meeting at the G20 with Poroshenko along with the French and German leaders.
For his part, the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko assured his habit not to exclude a Russian invasion “large scale”, without presenting hard evidence.
An Associated Press reporter in the government-controlled town of Maryinka on the frontline with the rebel stronghold of Donetsk heard heavy artillery throughout the night on Monday and early on Tuesday. Local residents say hostilities never really fully stopped there but the fighting has been particularly intensively in the past couple of weeks. “But there’s fighting during daytime, even kids don’t go outside for a walk, they’re scared”.
In his address, the president said: “Our global partners from the parade will get the message that Ukraine can defend itself but it needs long-term support”. But he said Russian Federation does not plan to restrict its diplomatic relations with Ukraine.
The Kremlin’s press-service says they agreed to hold such a meeting in a telephone conversation earlier on August 23.
Hollande is concerned about the growing number of cease-fire violations reported in eastern Ukraine, his office said.
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Poroshenko praised advances in his military’s readiness while visiting troops Tuesday, saying the army is better trained and equipped than when fighting first broke out.
