Ukraine says Russia lets rebels attack from its side, proposes more talks

Russia is letting separatist rebels use its territory to attack Ukrainian border posts, a top security official charged Friday as clashes in southeastern Ukraine killed nine more government troops. National Security Council Secretary Andriy Parubiy also said Russia was massing troops near the Ukrainian border — a statement that could not immediately be verified. The two neighbors, who share a 1,250-mile border, have been trading claims and counterclaims ever since Ukraine began fighting pro-Russia separatists in April.

The President and the Chancellor agreed that the United States and Europe should take further coordinated measures to impose costs on Russia if it does not take steps toward de-escalation in short order.

a White House statement

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Friday that Ukraine had proposed a place and a time for peace talks but had not heard back from the other parties. Representatives from Ukraine, Russia and the rebels took part in earlier talks along with representatives of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The Russian Foreign Ministry accused Poroshenko’s government of dragging its feet on holding another round of negotiations and accused it of using cluster munitions against civilians.

(The talks) cannot be held outside Ukraine because it is felt this would inflate the status of the rebels.

a Western diplomatic source

Ukraine Europe