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Putin, Lukashenko Discuss Results of Minsk Talks on Ukraine – Kremlin

2014/08/30

MOSCOW, August 30 (RIA Novosti) – Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday discussed the results of the Customs Union-Ukraine-EU talks in Minsk, the Kremlin press service said.

"Foreign policy issues have been discussed with emphasis on the implementation of the results of the August 26 Minsk meeting of the Customs Union leaders with the Ukrainian president and EU representatives. In particular, the sides underlined the importance of consultations of a contact group in Minsk with the participation of representatives of Kiev authorities, southeastern regions, the OSCE and Russia,” the press service said.

Putin and Lukashenko also exchanged views on Russian-Belarusian union cooperation.

On Tuesday, the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, as well as European Union officials had a meeting in the Belarusian capital of Minsk. The sides discussed several issues, including the situation in Ukraine. All participants of the meeting agreed that the crisis should be de-escalated in a non-violent manner. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said a roadmap would be prepared to agree to a ceasefire as soon as possible in east Ukraine.

Russian Diplomats in Ukraine Freed, Return Home - Moscow

2014/08/30

MOSCOW, August 30 (RIA Novosti) – The Russian embassy employees detained earlier in Kiev have been freed and returned to Russia, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Saturday.

“As a result of considerable efforts, two employees of the Russian Federation embassy to Ukraine, who ensured the safety of the foreign establishment and were detained in Kiev, have been freed today and returned to their home country,” the ministerial statement said.

On Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported that two embassy employees were detained “under false pretext in Kiev.” According to the ministry, the diplomats were detained as they were leaving a cafe in Kiev on Thursday on allegations that they had grenades.

Moscow demanded the immediate release of the Russian embassy employees and Kiev's strict observance of international conventions about diplomatic immunity.

EU Leaders to Task European Commission With Preparing New Sanctions Against Russia

2014/08/30

MOSCOW, August 30 (RIA Novosti) – EU leaders will urge the European Commission to prepare a new round of measures against Russia, German Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said Saturday.

“EU leaders will certainly task the European Commission with preparing the next level of sanctions,” Gabriel said before an EU summit in Brussels, as quoted by Reuters.

On Saturday, the European Council gathers in Brussels to appoint senior positions and discuss further economic sanctions against Russia over Ukraine.

Relations between Russia and the West have deteriorated with regard to the situation in Ukraine. The West has repeatedly accused Russia of building up forces on its border with eastern Ukraine and supplying independence supporters with weapons, a claim Moscow has rejected.

In late July, the European Union and the United States proceeded from individual sanctions imposed on a number of people and companies to penalties on whole sectors of the Russian economy. In response, Russia limited food imports from countries that imposed sanctions on it, namely the US, the EU member states, Canada, Australia and Norway.

Hurricane Hits Russia’s Republic of Bashkortostan

2014/08/29

UFA, August 30 (RIA Novosti) - Over 40 people have been injured as a hurricane raged in Russia’s Republic of Bashkortostan late Friday - early Saturday, a representative of the investigative committee told RIA Novosti.

“The number of injured is on the rise: there are 40 at the moment, 15 have been hospitalized. Among them there are children, their condition is being précised,” the representative said.

The hurricane described as a tornado by the locals hit three regions of Bashkortostan, tearing off the roofs of the buildings, felling trees and piers.

According to local emergency ministry, over 200 houses have been damaged, 26 villages have been left without electricity. 15 temporary accommodation facilities were arranged for the hurricane victims. Some 800 rescuers are working in the region.

The consequences of hurricane in Bashkortostan

Dud Munition Found in Russia’s Rostov Region Bordering Ukraine

2014/08/29

ROSTOV-ON-DON, August 30 (RIA Novosti) - A dud munition presumably belonging to Ukrainian military forces has been found in Russia’s Rostov region, 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) from the border with Ukraine, a representative of Federal Security Service’s border department told RIA Novosti.

“A dud munition to Ukrainian military forces has been found in 4.5 kilometers from the border and in 300 meters from the town of Rozhdestvensky,” Nikolai Sinitsyn said.

The site has been taped up, the incident is being investigated.

Russia's Rostov Region borders Ukraine's eastern regions. The Russian-Ukrainian border has been hit multiple times by Ukrainian artillery.

Since mid-April, Ukrainian forces have been fighting independence supporters in the east of the country who refused to recognize the legitimacy of the new government that came to power after a February 22 coup.

Moscow has labelled the operation “punitive” and called on the warring sides to halt the confrontation and cease the bloodshed. Russia also sent a humanitarian convoy to eastern Ukraine under the auspices of the Red Cross to help the local civilian population suffering from the conflict.