Russia warns Ukraine troops to pull back as ceasefire talks continue

Ukrainian forces must pull back from areas of eastern Ukraine where they can harm civilian targets, Russia’s foreign minister has warned. Sergei Lavrov spoke amid reports of fierce fighting at Luhansk airport between Ukrainian troops and Russian tanks—the latest allegation of direct Russian involvement in the conflict. Ukrainian forces have been ordered to pull back from the airport in the face of the onslaught, a military spokesman said. Ukraine’s Defence Minister Valeriy Geletey said Russian units were moving into other towns in the region, including the largest city of the region, Donetsk.

We are fighting Russia and it is Russia which is deciding what will happen in Donbass.

Valeriy Geletey, Ukraine’s defence minister

Lavrov denied Russian troops were in Ukraine and said he hoped talks taking place in the Belarussian capital Minsk today will focus on agreeing to an immediate, unconditional ceasefire. Speaking in the east Siberian city of Yakutsk, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin accused Europe of ignoring the Ukrainian army “directly targeting its fire on residential areas”. He said he hoped “common sense will prevail” and that Russia and the West would not harm each other with further sanctions.

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