click advert

click advert
click for more info

Monday, 26 May 2014

Ukraine crisis: Battle to control Donetsk airport

Mark Lowen reports from the ground in Donetsk during a gun battle at the city's airport
Ukrainian troops have launched air attacks to regain control of Donetsk airport from pro-Russia rebels.
The firing seemed to subside on Monday evening after a fierce gun battle.
The fighting came as the man who would become Ukraine's new President, Petro Poroshenko, said he wanted to talk to Russia to end the crisis.
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow was "open to dialogue" with Mr Poroshenko but military action against separatists must end.
Mr Poroshenko said he hoped to meet Russian leaders early next month, after a trip to Poland where he will meet the US president and EU leaders.
Petro Poroshenko: "We will fight for the trust of the people of Donbas"
However, he warned he would take a tough line on armed militiamen.
He said: "Their goal is to turn Donbass [east Ukraine] into Somalia. I will not let anyone do this to our state and I hope that Russia will support my approach."
Mr Poroshenko, 48, has been named Ukraine's new president after winning more than half of the votes in the country's election.
Ukraine's election chief, Mykhaylo Okhendovskyy, said Mr Poroshenko had 54% of the vote with 90% of the ballots counted, and would not need a run-off. Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is a distant second on 13%.
Election observers said Sunday's vote was a genuine one that largely met international standards.
The mission from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) also said it gave the new president "legitimacy" to open a dialogue with separatists in the east.
Welcoming the election as "a major step", the EU said it was looking forward "to further concrete steps on this constructive path, including the use of leverage on armed groups to de-escalate the situation on the ground".

No comments:

Post a Comment