We are now closing the live blog for today. Don't forget that you can keep abreast of all our ongoing Ukraine coverage here.
This item from our news desk is not directly related to Ukraine, but still resonates considering what's going on in that part of the world:
Russia has reacted angrily to accusations from Washington that Moscow is violating its nuclear treaty obligations with the United States, saying it would not follow "American diktat" on their Intermediate-Range Nuclear Treaty.
The statement on December 12 by Russia's Foreign Ministry also said that Washington is following "the logic of confrontation" in its dealings with Russia.
The statement was a response to remarks made at a December 10 congressional hearing by U.S. Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Rose Gottemoeller.
Brian McKeon, Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Policy at the U.S. Department of Defense, said Washington is considering possible countermeasures in response to Russia's violation of the treaty.
The 1987 treaty bans ground-launched ballistic or cruise missiles capable of flying a distance of 500 to 5,500 kilometers.
(With reporting by Reuters)
RFE/RL's news desk has issued this item on Russia response to the U.S. Congress passing a bill to provide military assistance to Ukraine:
Russia has voiced "deep regret" about U.S. legislation that would approve fresh sanctions against Moscow and allow U.S. President Barack Obama's administration to provide lethal military assistance to Kyiv for its fight against Kremlin-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Aleksandr Lukashevich said the approval of the so-called Ukraine Freedom Support Act by both houses of the U.S. Congress on December 11 was "openly confrontational" in its nature.
The bill was scheduled for a second vote by lawmakers on December 12 due to technical reasons and still must be approved by the White House to become law.
It would open the way for the provision of up to $350 million worth of military hardware to Ukraine -- including the delivery of antitank and antiarmor weapons, radar, surveillance drones, and communications equipment to Ukrainian forces.
Lawmakers in Kyiv welcomed the approval by U.S. lawmakers on December 11 as a "historic decision."
(Reuters, AP, AFP)