Ukraine

The United States signed on May 18 its second $1 billion loan guarantee deal for Ukraine aimed at helping the crisis-wracked country surmount a Russia-backed insurgency and rebuild its tattered economy.

RT is reporting on Tuesday morning that "at least one civilian has been killed in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk."

According to the broadcaster, the person was killed when "an army shell hit an apartment building amid intense fire on rebel positions."

Russia didn't seek a delay to the planned start of a free-trade pact between Ukraine and the EU at trilateral talks on Monday, EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said.

Two Russian soldiers fighting with pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine were arrested by Ukrainian military forces, according to Kiev. Even though Kiev has leaked a video of one of two soldiers admitting he is part of the Russian military, Russia denies all involvement.

Western powers are clinging to a fraying peace deal in Ukraine and forcing Kiev to follow suit, even though Russian President Vladimir Putin shows no sign of wavering and NATO is warning that Moscow may be preparing for a new offensive. 

Romania's Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu on Wednesday attended a meeting in Antalya, Turkey, of the NATO-Ukraine Commission that discussed the latest developments in security in eastern Ukraine, the implementation of the Minsk agreements and the prospects for a long-term resolution of the conflict.

Photo credit: (c) Sorin LUPSA / AGERPRES ARCHIVE

Russia "to try to exercise influence in Donbass"

MOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin says that the resolution of the crisis in Ukraine depends on whether Kiev respects the Minsk agreement.

Ukraine said on May 6 that five Ukrainian soldiers were killed as fresh clashes rumbled on despite the resumption of talks between the government and rebels over a battered truce deal.

Rights groups and NGOs alleged that police used excessive force when they deployed tear gas, water cannon and stun grenades to disperse thousands of angry protesters gathered in front of the government HQ on Tuesday evening.

At least 20 protesters and police officers were injured during the unrest, and several cars were damaged, police said.

Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski has given his formal approval for the creation of a joint military brigade with Lithuania and Ukraine, TASS reported.

The resolution signed by Komorowski on Monday will take effect two weeks after it is published, the Polish leader's office has confirmed, according to the Russian news agency.