Ukraine Retracts Announcement of Cease-Fire With Russia

[Bosonic]

Last edited Wed Sep 3, 2014, 07:22 AM - Edit history (5)

Source: New York Times

KIEV, Ukraine — The office of President Petro O. Poroshenko of Ukraine said Wednesday that he and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia had a similar understanding about what was needed to achieve a cease-fire in southeastern Ukraine, but it retracted a statement it had made earlier in the day that said the two men had agreed to a “lasting cease-fire.”

The initial statement, posted on the presidential website, went too far in describing the results of a telephone call between the two leaders as having reached a cease-fire, said a spokesman, noting that a revised version would be posted shortly.

The presidents exchanged opinions about a cease-fire, but there was no formal agreement, said the spokesman, who, in line with protocol, did not give his name.

The change echoed statements from Dmitri S. Peskov, the Kremlin’s press secretary, who had earlier said that Russia could not negotiate a cease-fire because it was not a party to the conflict but that the opinions of the two presidents overlapped.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/04/world/europe/ukraine-russia.html?emc=edit_na_20140903

---

Ukraine says cease-fire steps agreed

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — The office of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Wednesday that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin are in agreement on a cease-fire in eastern Ukraine, but the statement was ambiguous and a top rebel figure said no cease-fire was possible without Ukraine withdrawing its forces.

The brief statement said "mutual understanding was reached regarding the steps that will contribute to the establishment of peace" but gave no details.

There have been previous statements of agreements on steps for peace, but the conflict has only intensified. Wednesday's statement came as U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in Estonia in a show of solidarity with NATO allies who fear they could be the next target of Russia's aggression.

Poroshenko's office first said that there "agreement on a permanent cease-fire," but later revised the statement to say "agreement on a cease-fire regime." The changes appeared in Ukrainian, Russian and English-language versions issued by the office.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/putin-poroshenko-discuss-settlement-ukraine

#BREAKING Putin and Poroshenko agree to ceasefire in east Ukraine: Kiev

https://twitter.com/AFP/status/507075740521623552

As a result of my telephone conversation with Russian President we reached an agreement on a permanent ceasefire on Donbass.

https://twitter.com/poroshenko/status/507079967549964288

[Dems to Win]

1. Most wonderful news. It's being called a permanent ceasefire

Things were getting awfully brutal, on both sides. It will be relief to all people in the region to see it end.

[amandabeech]

2. If the separatists agree to this, and if the terms are fair,

then this is great news.

I look forward to reading more about this story today.

[Tarheel_Dem]

3. MSN.com: "Russia Agrees to Ceasefire with Ukraine"

How can Russia "agree to a ceasefire", when they've said all along, they weren't actively involved? Let's be honest, as soon as the NATO meeting is over, we'll be right back where we were before the Kremlin's stenographers rushed out the press release.

Initial reaction from Ukrainian forces was cautious.

"At the moment that journalists told me of a ceasefire, we came under fire twice," Serhiy Melnichuk, commander of the Aidar volunteer militia battalion in the Donbass, told Ukraine's 112 TV channel.

"We have received no orders yet. Russia needs to remove its forces from our territory ... We have to stop this slaughter, we are destroying the nation."


http://news.msn.com/world/ukraine-says-putin-poroshenko-agree-on-permanent-ceasefire-in-donbass-region

[another_liberal]

5. Poroshenko is jumping the gun, Moscow says . . .

The ceasefire needs to be agreed between the Separatists and Kiev. President Putin has noted that he does not command the Separatist forces and can not negotiate in their place with Poroshenko. What was agreed between the two Presidents was that a ceasefire should and must be quickly negotiated between the two sides (Kiev and the Separatists).

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025482441

[IronGate]

17. ...

The ceasefire needs to be agreed between the Separatists and Kiev. President Putin has noted that he does not command the Separatist forces and can not negotiate in their place with Poroshenko. What was agreed between the two Presidents was that a ceasefire should and must be quickly negotiated between the two sides (Kiev and the Separatists).

Biggest fucking lie yet from Putin.
The hell he isn't calling the shots from Moscow, and lest we forget, (as some here would like to do), there are Russian troops in Ukraine fighting alongside the "rebels".

What a fucking hypocrite Putin is.

[Iliyah]

4. Russia says not true

[another_liberal]

6. Here is an update link . . .

There seems to have been something of a translation problem again:

http://rt.com/news/184716-poroshenko-ceasefire-ukraine-putin/

[bemildred]

7. It's a good sign, I think.

Yats is talking apocalyptic over at the NATO summit, but Poroshenko is talking cease-fire. He doesn't want to recognize the rebels, and Putin doesn't want to admit to being party to the dispute. But maybe they can work that out.

[jakeXT]

8. Well NATO is a partner of his foundation

http://openukraine.org/en/about/partners

[another_liberal]

10. He's our boy alright . . .

There was never much doubt about that!

[another_liberal]

9. Yes, a very good sign indeed . . .

And since the IMF is getting nervous about giving Kiev more money (ironically, because of the continuing civil war) Poroshenko is likely to at least try and follow through with a ceasefire agreement with the Separatists.

I'm still doubtful if he is in complete control of all of Ukraine's fighting units, or of it's entire government for that matter. He may be pushed aside by war-hawks (possibly with our backing) at just about any minute.

Still, lets hope this is the beginning of the end of this pointless slaughter and destruction.

[bemildred]

11. Putin: Ukraine must withdraw, rebels must halt

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Russian-backed insurgents in eastern Ukraine to "stop advancing" Wednesday and urged the Ukrainian army to withdraw their troops from the region.

A day ahead of a NATO summit, Ukraine issued a vague statement about agreeing with Putin on cease-fire steps for eastern Ukraine. The separatists rejected the move, saying no cease-fire was possible without Ukraine withdrawing its forces, while Putin's spokesman claimed that Moscow was not in a position to agree to a cease-fire because it is not party to the conflict.

The back-and-forth came as President Barack Obama arrived in Estonia in a show of solidarity with NATO allies who fear they could be the next target of Russia's aggression. NATO is holding a summit in Wales on Thursday, with plans to approve a rapid-response team to counter the Russian threat.

Putin, speaking on a trip to the Mongolian capital of Ulan Bator, was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying that Kiev must withdraw its troops and stop its artillery strikes.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_UKRAINE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-09-03-08-42-57

[bemildred]

12. Putin Calls for International Monitoring of Ceasefire Compliance in Ukraine

ULAN BATOR (Mongolia), September 3 (RIA Novosti) – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said that international monitoring on the ceasefire compliance is needed.

“Full-fledged and objective international control over the compliance of the ceasefire and monitoring the situation to create a secure zone should be observed,” Putin said in regard to what was needed to settle the situation in southeastern Ukraine.

http://en.ria.ru/russia/20140903/192597840/Putin-Calls-for-International-Monitoring-of-Ceasefire-Compliance.html

[bemildred]

13. Putin says views "very close" with Poroshenko on how to resolve Ukraine conflict

ULAN BATOR, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday his views and those of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko were "very close" on finding a political solution to a conflict in eastern Ukraine and an accord between Kiev and the rebels could be reached by Friday.

"Our views on the way to resolve the conflict, as it seemed to me, are very close," Putin told reporters in the Mongolia capital of Ulan Bator, confirming he had spoken to Poroshenko earlier on Wednesday. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Writing by Alissa de Carbonnel, editing by Elizabeth Piper)

http://www.trust.org/item/20140903123102-45z5e/

[bemildred]

14. Russia Ukraine assets rally on peace talk; emerging stocks at 3-year high

LONDON: Russian and Ukrainian bonds rallied on Wednesday, and Moscow-listed shares leapt 4 percent after Kiev said a "permanent ceasefire" had been agreed in the Donbass area, the news also sparking gains across emerging assets.

The Kremlin watered down the talk of a formal ceasefire, but it confirmed that steps for peace had been discussed.

Emerging stocks rose more than 1 percent surpassing three-year highs hit last month, after the ceasefire reports as well as Chinese data that showed a rebound in services activity. The data pushed Chinese domestic stocks to their highest since December 2013.

The biggest gains came in emerging Europe, the region most exposed to the conflict in Ukraine, after Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko said in a statement that he had reached a deal with Russia's Vladimir Putin following a telephone conversation.

http://www.brecorder.com/markets/equity/europe/192388-russia-ukraine-assets-rally-on-peace-talk;-emerging-stocks-at-3-year-high.html

[bemildred]

15. Nato-Russian military agreements remain unchanged - Merkel

BERLIN, Sept 3 (KUNA) -- As the Nato summit is set to kick off in Wales tomorrow, German Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed that the Nato-Russian military agreements will remain unchanged, curbing any rising fears between Russia and Nato due to the Ukrainian crisis.
In a press statement on Wednesday, Merkel said "the Nato-Russian Military agreements will be intact."

However, she reassured the Baltics (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) which have been anxious about Russia's aggression in Ukraine that the Nato will have a stepped-up response to Russia.

Nato-Russian relations started in 1991 where many pacts were signed between the NATO military and Russia.

http://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2394954&Language=en

[bemildred]

16. Report: bodies of 87 Ukrainian soldiers retrieved

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) -- A Ukrainian military official says the bodies of 87 soldiers killed while fighting Russian-backed rebels have been evacuated from southeastern Ukraine.

Mykhailo Logvinov, a military official in the southeastern region of Zaporizhye, was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying Wednesday that the bodies have been delivered to the area from the eastern city of Ilovaysk.

The rebels routed the Ukrainian forces in Ilovaysk and other eastern areas over the past week, forcing them to retreat. The rebel gains sharply turned the tide in their favor after weeks of Ukrainian advances.

Media reports said at least about 100 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed around Ilovaysk.


http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_UKRAINE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-09-03-10-23-33

[Tommy_Carcetti]

18. Putin's shell game and not-so-plausible deniability.

Last edited Wed Sep 3, 2014, 12:48 PM - Edit history (1)

"Oh, I don't have authority to sign a peace agreement. They're all local separatists! Locals, I tell you!"

[bemildred]

19. Russia says ready to renew gas talks with Kiev but only if debts paid

(Reuters) - Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, responding to a Ukrainian proposal to pay different prices for Russian gas in summer and winter, said on Wednesday Moscow was ready to renew talks with Kiev but only if it paid its gas debts.

"We are ready to discuss the resumption of cooperation with Ukraine in the gas sector," Medvedev said in a statement. But he added that Russia would do so only if Kiev repaid "existing debts, which have reached an astronomical figure."

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/09/03/ukraine-crisis-gas-medvedev-idUKL5N0R44F320140903?rpc=401&feedType=RSS&feedName=governmentFilingsNews

[bemildred]

20. France suspends delivery of warship to Russia

PARIS (AP) -- President Francois Hollande's office says France is suspending the delivery of a hulking warship to Russia amid security concerns about Moscow's actions in neighboring Ukraine.

The announcement, after Hollande convened a special defense panel, comes a day before the start of a NATO summit and after months of pressure from France to suspend the sale amid tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Hollande's office called the fighting in Ukraine "grave" and said Russia's recent actions in eastern Ukraine harm "the foundations of security in Europe."

The Vladivostok, the first of two Mistral-class helicopter carriers ordered by Russia, was to be delivered by late October.

Despite talk Wednesday of a possible cease-fire in Ukraine, Hollande said that's not enough to allow France to authorize the delivery of the warship.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_FRANCE_RUSSIA_WARSHIP?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-09-03-12-08-16

[jakeXT]

21. Did new tanks and helicopters arrive?

The first is a puzzling sale of 58 T-72 tanks to the Czech Republic by Hungary. Since the signing of the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty in 1990, the purchase, transfer, and stationing of European arms and troops has been tightly regulated. So a sale between two signatories (such as the Czech Republic and Hungary) is closely monitored. And something caught the eye of defense industry observers in this transaction. While the Czechs were buying the vehicles, it didn't appear that they would actually be using them.

It's not yet possible to tell where these tanks will be going, but the current speculation is that they're destined for the Ukrainian army. This makes sense, because Ukraine is desperate for new equipment that is completely compatible with the Soviet-style stuff already in their inventory; the army doesn't want to screw around with new training or parts in the middle of a war.

But Hungary borders Ukraine directly, so why not just drive them into Ukraine? Well, the Hungarian entity selling the tanks is their Ministry of Defense. The Czech buyer, however, is a private company. So as long as the Czechs keep in compliance with relevant treaty obligations and the like, the sale is legal, and the Hungarian government can be completely honest when they say they're not providing arms to the Ukrainian military.

Secondly, the Croatian Ministry of Defense has announced that this is the perfect time to upgrade its helicopters to something more in keeping with the country's position as a member of a US-led alliance. They're getting rid of 14 old Mil Mi-8 transport choppers and will replace them with 20 new UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from the US. What about the old, non-NATO helicopters? Well, as it turns out, there's a country to Croatia's east — that starts with "U-K-R" and rhymes with "insane" — on the lookout for ready-to-use Soviet-compatible equipment.

https://news.vice.com/article/nato-isnt-arming-ukraine-just-like-russia-isnt-fighting-there