RIA Novosti

The OSCE's Chairman-in-Office and Swiss President Didier Burkhalter has met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the situation in Ukraine.

All 7 kidnapped observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, who were held by pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine since 25 April, were freed, Saturday.

Five Ukrainian officers taken with them were also freed, according to Russian media reports.

The EU, Ukraine and Russia have failed to agree on gas issues on Friday's meeting in Warsaw, Poland.

Two more sessions of the three-way energy talks are planned for May, according to the EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger as quoted by RIA Novosti agency.

Ukrainain special forces claimed Friday to control "half of Slaviansk", hours after Kiev renewed its operation against pro-Russian separatists.

Officials from the Security Service of Ukraine regained significant parts of the city in what authorities describe as an "anti-terrorist" operation.

Ukrainian special forces will storm seized buildings and checkpoints set up by pro-Russian rebels on May 2, the country's Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said Thursday.

Reports cited by RIA Novosti also reveal that Valentin Nalivaychenko, head of the special forces, will take the lead of the so-called "anti-terrorist" operation, which was previously assigned to Avakov.

Japan will provide a USD 1.1 M financial assistance to support the resolution of the crisis in Ukraine.

At least two men were reportedly killed after Ukrainian commandos stormed the eastern town of Slaviansk, which has been controlled by pro-Russian rebels for weeks.

The city's website, as quoted by RIA Novosti, also says an "unspecified number" of people have been injured.

Russia's energy concern Gazprom is to acquire half of the shares of its Berlin-based subsidiary, South Stream Transport.

Gazprom's board of directors agreed that a total of 205 900 shares will be sold by Gazprom Germania to the main company, RIA Novosti reported.

Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has been put on a wanted list, Oleh Makhnitskyi, acting Prosecutor General of Ukraine, said Wednesday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Ukraine was "on the verge of civil war" and described the actions of Ukraine's military in the east as "unacceptable".

Putin made the first comment during a phone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whereas the second was in a call to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as RIA Novosti reported.