Ukraine to pursue NATO membership / Russian ‘direct aggression’ concerns EU / Calls grow loud for more sanctions on Russia

The prime minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk said on the 29 August 2014 that he would ask the Ukrainian parliament to put the country on a course to join NATO and to change the non-aligned status of Ukraine.

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen made a statement after an extraordinary meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission in Brussels on the 29 August 2014, 'following the serious escalation of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine'. Commentators said that Mr Rasmussen had said Ukraine was free to pursue membership of NATO if it wished, despite Russian opposition.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko met President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy and President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso in Brussels on the 30 August 2014 ahead of the special European Council summit later on the same day.

During remarks made by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton at the end of the Informal meeting of European Union Foreign Ministers (Gymnich) in Milan on the 30 August 2014 she said 'all Ministers expressed their deep concerns about the recent aggression against Ukraine by regular Russian military forces'.

At the special European Council in Brussels on the 30 August 2014 the European Union gave Russia one week to reverse course in Ukraine or face new sanctions. European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said the EU was working urgently on further restrictive measures.

Speaking on Russian TV on the 31 August 2014 President Vladimir Putin appealed for immediate 'substantive talks' on the future status of eastern Ukraine. Putin said the talks should focus on 'questions of the political organization of society and statehood for southeastern Ukraine' with a goal of 'protecting the lawful interests of the people who live there'.

• Primary Source

NATO: Newsroom: News, 29.08.14: NATO Secretary General statement after the extraordinary meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_112210.htm

EUObserver, 29.08.14: Rasmussen: Ukraine free to seek Nato membership http://euobserver.com/defence/125399

EurActiv, 29.08.14: Ukraine to request NATO membership http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/ukraine-request-nato-membership-308084

BBC News, 29.08.14: Nato accuses Russia of violating Ukraine sovereignty http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-28984241

http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/topics_37768.htm http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/topics_37768.htm

RIA Novosti, 29.08.14: Accusations That Russian Troops Deployed in Ukraine Not Backed by Evidence – Lavrov http://en.ria.ru/world/20140829/192451337/Accusations-That--Russian-Troops-Deployed-in-Ukraine-Not-Backed.html

ESO: Key Source: Euromaidan - Protests in Ukraine 2013 - 2015 - Key source http://www.europeansources.info/record/euromaidan-protests-in-ukraine-2013-2015/

ESO: Background information: Putin and Poroshenko shake hands, but discord prevails http://www.europeansources.info/record/putin-and-poroshenko-shake-hands-but-discord-prevails/

BBC News, 29.08.14: Ukraine to seek Nato membership, says PM Yatsenyuk http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-28978699

BBC News, 29.08.14: Ukraine 'slipping out of control', Germany warns http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-28990428

Deutsche Welle, 29.08.14: Opinion: Putin's war 2.0 in Ukraine http://dw.de/p/1D3Pr

Deutsche Welle, 29.08.14: NATO warns of 'significant escalation' in Ukraine http://dw.de/p/1D3P3

Deutsche Welle, 29.08.14: OSCE's limitations over Ukraine http://dw.de/p/1D3Un

OSCE: Newsroom: News and Press Releases, 29.08.14: Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected by all sides and at all times, says Chair http://www.osce.org/cio/123069

France24, 29.08.14: Ukraine to relaunch NATO membership bid http://www.france24.com/en/20140829-ukraine-death-toll-nato-membership-russia-putin/

UN: UN in Ukraine, 28.08.14: Ban alarmed by ‘dangerous escalation’ in Ukraine crisis; Security Council holds emergency talks http://www.un.org.ua/en/information-centre/news/1894

UN: UN in Ukraine, 29.08.14: Pillay alarmed by killing of civilians in Ukraine http://www.un.org.ua/en/information-centre/news/1895

EUObserver, 30.08.14: Poroshenko: EU likely to hold off on Russia sanctions http://euobserver.com/foreign/125407

BBC News, 30.08.14: Ukraine crisis: Russian 'direct aggression' concerns EU http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-28993873

EU: EEAS: Press Release, 30.08.14: Remarks by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton at the end of the Informal meeting of European Union Foreign Ministers (Gymnich), Milan, 30 August 2014 http://www.eeas.europa.eu/statements/docs/2014/140830_01_en.pdf

Deutsche Welle, 30.08.14: Calls grow loud for more sanctions on Russia http://dw.de/p/1D43Z

EurActiv, 30.08.14: Poroshenko: The EU's agenda now revolves around Ukraine http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/poroshenko-eus-agenda-now-revolves-around-ukraine-308101

BBC News, 31.08.14: EU set to tighten Russia sanctions 'within a week' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29001596

BBC News, 31.08.14: Putin 'urges talks on statehood for east Ukraine' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29003116

Deutsche Welle, 31.08.14: Putin calls for talks on 'statehood' for eastern Ukraine http://dw.de/p/1D4O8

European Commission: RAPID: STATEMENT/14/265: Statement by President Barroso following his meeting with President Poroshenko of Ukraine http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-14-265_en.pdf

European Commission: RAPID: STATEMENT/14/264: President Barroso calls President Putin http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-14-264_en.pdf

EUObserver, 31.08.14: EU leaders give Putin one-week deadline http://euobserver.com/foreign/125417

EUObserver, 02.09.14: New EU appointees speak out against Russia http://euobserver.com/foreign/125437

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