Section: Boston Herald (USA)
Ukraine pledges more autonomy to rebellious east
KIEV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s president promised Wednesday to introduce a bill as early as next week that would offer greater autonomy to the pro-Russian east, where separatists have been battling government troops for almost five months.But President Petro Poroshenko said the regions would remain part of Ukraine and rejected the idea of...
EU adopts new Russia sanctions but delays action
BRUSSELS — The European Union on Monday shied away from slapping new economic sanctions on Russia right away over its actions in eastern Ukraine. Instead, the 28-nation bloc said the punitive measures will come into force “in the next few days” depending on how well the cease-fire agreement in eastern Ukraine will be upheld.European...
Ukraine's leader rallies for unity in key city
MARIUPOL, Ukraine — Seeking to rally national unity, President Petro Poroshenko visited a southeastern port Monday that has been assaulted for days by Russian-backed separatists and declared the city would remain a part of Ukraine.After a series of military defeats to increasingly confident rebel forces in the country’s eastern regions,...
EU formally adopts new sanctions against Russia
BRUSSELS — The European Council on Monday formally adopted a package of further sanctions against Russia over its actions in eastern Ukraine, but is delaying the enforcement to assess the implementation of the cease-fire agreement first.The sanctions will be implemented “in the next few days,” the President of the European Council...
Ukraine's leader visits embattled city of Mariupol
MARIUPOL, Ukraine — Ukraine’s president made a surprise trip Monday to a key city in southeastern Ukraine as a cease-fire between Russian-backed rebels and Ukrainian troops appeared to be largely holding.President Petro Poroshenko addressed workers at a large metal plant in the embattled coastal city of Mariupol — a symbolic show of...
Ukraine shelling claims lives, sets houses ablaze
SPARTAK, Ukraine — Clashes broke out Sunday outside the main rebel-held city in eastern Ukraine, throwing the freshly forged cease-fire agreement between government troops and Russian-backed separatists into further doubt. …read more Source: Boston...
Civilian killed in Ukraine shelling despite truce
DONETSK, Ukraine — One civilian was killed in shelling in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol and large explosions were heard near the airport in Donetsk early Sunday, raising fears that a cease-fire signed two days ago is on the verge of collapse.Blasts from the area near the airport were powerful enough to be heard in downtown Donetsk, the main...
Apparent shelling heard outside Ukrainian port
KIEV, Ukraine — Witnesses in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol are reporting sustained explosions outside the city and a volunteer battalion of Ukrainian fighters says Grad rockets are being fired at its positions.The reports Saturday night come little more than a day after Ukraine and Russian-backed separatist rebels signed a cease-fire after...
Ukraine cease-fire appears to hold
KIEV, Ukraine — After more than four months of bloodshed, a cease-fire in Ukraine’s rebellious east largely held back fighting Saturday, but appeared fragile as both sides of the conflict claimed the others had violated the agreement.A statement from Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko’s appeared to make glancing reference to the...
Russia flexes muscles with move into Crimea
A superpower battle is brewing over Ukraine as President Obama warned Russia to back off yesterday as it assembled troops in the region in a showdown global security experts fear could fuel the unrest and result in a new Cold War.“It could very easily lead to a bigger conflict, and that is something we truly want to avoid,” said Cedric Leighton,...
