Washington and Brussels insist they will not offer concessions to Putin on Ukraine in order to reverse Russia’s apparent refusal to distinguish between jihadists and Western-backed opponents to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Regular regional elections in Ukraine are scheduled for October 25.
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The USA also praised the decision to postpone “another round of illegal elections” in eastern Ukraine.
Mr Poroshenko’s comments to a group of military cadets in Kiev came one day after the separatists delayed, until next year, local elections they had planned for the coming weeks.
Ukraine and separatist directors recognized just last week to add to a pull-back of weapons in oriental Ukraine, which often rebels said can mean an “end into the military conflict” when using the Ukrainian official.
It said the situation is “calm”, except for “a few explosions and sporadic small-arms fire”. “But this is not simply a ceasefire – this is a real truce”.
Under Paris, Ukraine is to pass a special law on the Donetsk and Luhansk votes and implementation is to lag into 2016.
“The fact that 70 percent of Ukrainian army regulars fighting against separatists and Russian soldiers have Russian as their mother-tongue shows the unity of our people and our army”.
Vladimir Putin playing ice hockey this month.
The U.S. is still working with the European Union on extra sanctions if the truce unravels.
Apart from local elections being held, the Minsk agreement envisaged the withdrawal of Russian forces and equipment from Ukraine and the return of the joint border to Ukraine control by the end of the year.
VIENNA (CNS) – The head of the Ukrainian Catholic church has urged the Vatican to show greater support for his country, as a senior Vatican diplomat warned the country risked becoming “a kind of Somalia”.
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Nevertheless the threat of renewed violence remains.
