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A woman carries a baby as she passes destroyed houses following what locals say was overnight shelling by Ukrainian forces in the eastern town of Slovyansk on June 9.
A woman carries a baby as she passes destroyed houses following what locals say was overnight shelling by Ukrainian forces in the eastern town of Slovyansk on June 9.

Live Blog: Crisis In Ukraine (Archive)

Summary for June 9

-- Ukraine's Foreign Ministry says that Moscow and Kyiv have reached a "mutual understanding" on key parts of a plan proposed by President Petro Poroshenko for ending violence in separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine.

-- Reports say up to 20 armed gunmen were trying to seize property from a factory (Topaz) that makes communications and electronic-warfare equipment in the Donetsk region.

-- A deputy foreign minister says Russia will consider any expansion of NATO forces near its borders a "demonstration of hostile intentions" and "take the necessary political and military-technological measures to support our security."

-- A two-man crew for Russian Zvezda TV arrived in Moscow after being released from detention in Ukraine.

-- Serbian officials say their own work on the Russian-backed South Stream gas pipeline will have to be suspended after Bulgaria stopped construction of its portion based on EU and U.S. concerns.

-- Ukrainian security forces are reportedly still battling pro-Russian separatists in the east near Slovyansk and Donetsk.

*NOTE: Times are stated according to local time in Kyiv
12:45 4.6.2014
12:41 4.6.2014
Reuters has been looking at the ramifications of the G7 (formerly known as the G8) meeting without Russia for the first time in nearly 20 years:
While Russia retains substantial forces on Ukraine's eastern border, and pro-Russia militias are operating in many towns, presidential elections took place relatively peacefully across the whole of Ukraine last month, which the West took as a signal of Moscow's readiness not to escalate the crisis.

That sense of increased cooperation has raised questions about whether the European Union, with its critical trade and energy ties with Russia, could soon seek ways of drawing Moscow back into the fold, such as allowing it to rejoin the G8.

Officials responsible for coordinating this week's summit did not rule that out Tuesday, but said Moscow had a long way to go to prove its intentions were sound and that it was capable of acting like a "normal democratic country."

Read the entire article here
12:14 4.6.2014
RFE/RL's Multimedia Department has issued this video of Ukraine President-elect Petro Poroshenko's meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama:
Obama Announces Increase In Nonlethal Aid To Ukraine
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No media source currently available

0:00 0:01:09 0:00
12:10 4.6.2014
11:54 4.6.2014
11:40 4.6.2014
RFE/RL's news desk has issued this item on President Obama's meeting with Poroshenko in Warsaw:
RFE/RL's news desk has issued this item on President Obama's meeting with Poroshenko in Warsaw:

U.S. President Barack Obama has called Ukrainian President-elect Petro Poroshenko a "wise choice" to lead Ukraine during the crisis in the country's east.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Poroshenko in Warsaw on June 4, Obama said the two discussed how Washington can help train Ukrainian military and law enforcement and ways for Ukraine to reduce its energy dependence on Russia.

He said they also discussed a plan for restoring peace to the country and establishing economic growth.

Simultaneous to the meeting, the United States announced it would send Kyiv an additional $5 million in equipment that could help in its battle against armed pro-Russian separatists in the east. The aid will include body armor and night-vision goggles.

For his part, Poroshenko thanked U.S. officials for Washington's support during the crisis, in which armed pro-Russian separatists have taken over cities in eastern Ukraine.

Obama and Poroshenko are in Warsaw for celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of the first democratic elections in Poland.

11:11 4.6.2014
09:17 4.6.2014
09:09 4.6.2014
08:52 4.6.2014
RFE/RL's news desk has some details of fighting in Luhansk:
Ukraine's National Guard says its forces had to abandon a military outpost in the eastern city of Luhansk after running out of ammunition following a 10-hour gun battle with pro-Russian separatists.

The National Guard's press service said today that some 300 insurgents had attacked the regiment in the early morning hours.

The statement said "law enforcers returned fire until their ammunition ran out."

It said six militants were killed and 20 injured in the fighting.

Three Ukrainian soldiers were wounded, it said, adding that the Ukrainian forces were being moved "to a safe place."

Fighting in Ukraine's restive east has intensified in the past week, with rebels launching an attack on Donetsk airport and on a border guards' base near Luhansk.

Fourteen Ukrainian troops died when their helicopter was shot down near Slovyansk on May 29.

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