15:34
4.6.2014
15:21
4.6.2014
Our correspondent Carl Schreck from Brussels:
BRUSSELS -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel says NATO members must reverse the downward spending trends on defense that threaten the alliance's capabilities over the long term.
Hagel made the comments at a June 4 press conference in Brussels following meetings with fellow defense chiefs from the 28 NATO members.
The push for larger defense budgets among NATO members comes in the wake of Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea territory, which Hagel called the "most significant direct challenge" to European security since the end of the Cold War.
Hagel noted that the United States has already offered $18 million in nonlethal aid to Ukraine’s security forces and that U.S. President Barack Obama earlier in the day announced an additional $5 million in such assistance that will include body armor and night-vision goggles.
Hagel made the comments at a June 4 press conference in Brussels following meetings with fellow defense chiefs from the 28 NATO members.
The push for larger defense budgets among NATO members comes in the wake of Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea territory, which Hagel called the "most significant direct challenge" to European security since the end of the Cold War.
Hagel noted that the United States has already offered $18 million in nonlethal aid to Ukraine’s security forces and that U.S. President Barack Obama earlier in the day announced an additional $5 million in such assistance that will include body armor and night-vision goggles.
14:56
4.6.2014
Canadian PM Harper says Vladimir Putin represents "long-term menace" to Europe (so Canada is sending 75 soldiers) http://t.co/42GTjhf2cp
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) June 4, 2014
14:50
4.6.2014
Ukraine's military says its forces are pressing on with an offensive against pro-Russian rebels controlling the city of Slovyansk in eastern Ukraine.
A spokesman for Kyiv's so-called "antiterrorist operation" said more than 300 separatist fighters were killed and about 500 injured in the past 24 hours, but the separatists deny this and the figure cannot be independently confirmed.
The Ukrainian spokesman, Vladyslav Seleznyov, said two servicemen had been killed and 45 wounded in the offensive.
He said two military helicopters were damaged when they came under fire but denied separatists' claims they had downed at least one helicopter.
Earlier on June 4, Ukraine's border guard service said its troops had to abandon a base near Luhansk that had been under attack for two days.
The National Guard separately said it had to abandon another outpost near Luhansk after its forces ran out of ammunition following hours of fighting.
A spokesman for Kyiv's so-called "antiterrorist operation" said more than 300 separatist fighters were killed and about 500 injured in the past 24 hours, but the separatists deny this and the figure cannot be independently confirmed.
The Ukrainian spokesman, Vladyslav Seleznyov, said two servicemen had been killed and 45 wounded in the offensive.
He said two military helicopters were damaged when they came under fire but denied separatists' claims they had downed at least one helicopter.
Earlier on June 4, Ukraine's border guard service said its troops had to abandon a base near Luhansk that had been under attack for two days.
The National Guard separately said it had to abandon another outpost near Luhansk after its forces ran out of ammunition following hours of fighting.
14:42
4.6.2014
"This is a genocide." Poroshenko & bombs around the corner from where airstrike killed 8 civilians in #Luhansk Monday pic.twitter.com/R2hNuZa78Z
— Alec Luhn (@ASLuhn) June 4, 2014
14:39
4.6.2014
Farmers facing financial disaster in Russian-annexed #Crimea http://t.co/dfl0E6fF9A pic.twitter.com/28N3AyHqW1
— Brian Bonner (@BSBonner) June 4, 2014
14:15
4.6.2014
Our news desk has another update on Obama's Warsaw trip:
U.S. President Barack Obama has reaffirmed the United States' "unwavering" commitment to the security of Poland and other Eastern and Central European NATO allies after Russia's intervention in Ukraine.
"Poland will never stand alone. Estonia will never stand alone. Latvia will never stand alone. Lithuania will never stand alone. Romania will never stand alone." Obama said in a speech in Warsaw today.
Obama is in the Polish capital for events to commemorate the country's first democratic elections in 1989.
Addressing a crowd in Castle Square, Obama drew parallels between events in Poland 25 years ago and the current situation in Ukraine.
"We will not accept Russia's occupation of Crimea and its violation of Ukraine's sovereignty," he said.
He also said "further Russian provocations will only mean more isolation and costs for Russia."
Obama met with Ukraine's President-elect Petro Poroshenko earlier in the day in Warsaw.
"Poland will never stand alone. Estonia will never stand alone. Latvia will never stand alone. Lithuania will never stand alone. Romania will never stand alone." Obama said in a speech in Warsaw today.
Obama is in the Polish capital for events to commemorate the country's first democratic elections in 1989.
Addressing a crowd in Castle Square, Obama drew parallels between events in Poland 25 years ago and the current situation in Ukraine.
"We will not accept Russia's occupation of Crimea and its violation of Ukraine's sovereignty," he said.
He also said "further Russian provocations will only mean more isolation and costs for Russia."
Obama met with Ukraine's President-elect Petro Poroshenko earlier in the day in Warsaw.
13:29
4.6.2014
Germany has historical reasons to seek compromise w/Russia. I spoke to @uli_speck and @UmlandAndreas http://t.co/0lMZjZZd9z
— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) June 4, 2014
13:12
4.6.2014
RT@NSCPress: FACT SHEET: U.S. Security Assistance to #Ukraine: http://t.co/qE8dPtPPnP
— Geoffrey Pyatt (@GeoffPyatt) June 4, 2014
13:05
4.6.2014
Here's the latest on the Russian troops near Ukraine's border (from RFE/RL's news desk):
NATO's top military commander says Russia is pulling back most of its troops from the Ukrainian border but that a portion "looks like it intends to remain."
However, the Reuters news agency quotes U.S. General Philip Breedlove, NATO's supreme allied commander in Europe, as also saying Russian irregular forces, Russian-backed forces, and Russian financing are very active in eastern Ukraine.
"This has to stop," he said in Brussels today.
Breedlove said all steps being taken by NATO to reinforce its members in Eastern and Central Europe would comply with a 1997 NATO agreement with Russia.
He accused Moscow of breaking that pact "when they crossed a sovereign boundary and annexed under fire a portion of a sovereign nation."
He also said NATO and its member countries were considering a wide range of requests for help from Ukraine, including lethal aid.
However, the Reuters news agency quotes U.S. General Philip Breedlove, NATO's supreme allied commander in Europe, as also saying Russian irregular forces, Russian-backed forces, and Russian financing are very active in eastern Ukraine.
"This has to stop," he said in Brussels today.
Breedlove said all steps being taken by NATO to reinforce its members in Eastern and Central Europe would comply with a 1997 NATO agreement with Russia.
He accused Moscow of breaking that pact "when they crossed a sovereign boundary and annexed under fire a portion of a sovereign nation."
He also said NATO and its member countries were considering a wide range of requests for help from Ukraine, including lethal aid.