| Author (Corporate) | BBC |
|---|---|
| Series Title | BBC News |
| Series Details | 08.08.14 |
| Publication Date | 08/08/2014 |
| Content Type | News |
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Reports of the civil war in Ukraine in early August 2014. There were reports of considerable casualities amongst Ukrainian government forces in battles against pro-Russian separatists in the eastern part of Ukraine. NATO stood by Ukraine and was looking to strengthen its partnership with the country at the Alliance’s summit in Wales in September 2014, Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said during a visit to Kiev on the 7 August 2014. 'NATO’s support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine is unwavering. Our partnership is long-standing. It’s strong, and in response to Russia’s aggression, NATO is working even more closely with Ukraine to reform its armed forces and defence institutions,' he said. On the 9 August 2014 pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine's east called for a ceasefire in Donetsk to avert a 'humanitarian catastrophe'. Russia renewed its offer to send a humanitarian mission, a day after Western powers warned against using such a mission to send troops. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said he was ready to consider allowing humanitarian assistance into the rebel-held area of eastern Ukraine. But he said any such mission must be international and unarmed and only enter via Ukrainian-manned checkpoints. On the 10 August 2014 there were news reports that Ukraine's military had pounded the main pro-Russian rebel stronghold of Donetsk with artillery fire, causing massive damage throughout the city. On the 11 August 2014 European Commission President Barroso made separate telephone calls to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the situation in Ukraine. In a statement issued by the International Committee of the Red Cross on the 11 August 2014 the ICRC said it was 'extremely concerned about the plight of people in need of assistance and protection as a result of conflict in eastern Ukraine'. News reports on the 12 August 2014 said that a large convoy of 300 lorries of humanitarian aid had left the Moscow area bound for eastern Ukraine, although it was not clear whether the ICRC supported the mission. Ukraine said that the only way the convoy could pass over the border from Russia into Ukraine would be with the formal recognition and backing of the International Red Cross. The Red Cross said it had not been given detailed operation plans of the convoy. Russian sources reported that the convoy would reach Ukraine on the 13 August 2014. Also on the 12 August 2014, the European Commission announced it would give additional funding of €2.5 million to assist the most vulnerable people affected by the continuing fighting in Eastern Ukraine. At the request of High Representative Catherine Ashton, the EU's Political and Security Committee convened on the 12 August 2014 for an extraordinary meeting to discuss three major crises on which the European Union was fully mobilised - Ukraine, Iraq and Gaza. |
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| Source Link | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-28707018 |
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| Countries / Regions | Russia, Ukraine |
