Putin Says Merkels Words About Minsk Agreements Unexpected, Disappointing

 Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the statement of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel that the Minsk agreements had been concluded only to give Ukraine time to prepare for war with Russia were unexpected and disappointing for him.

Merkel’s confession about Minsk Agreements a solid bid for a tribunal — diplomat

 The confession made by German ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel’s in her interview for Die Zeit that the Minsk Agreements were signed in order to buy time for Ukraine to prepare for a military standoff with Russia could be used for an investigation in a tribunal, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday.

Merkel und Macron für Russland-Sanktionen

Beim EU-Gipfel soll auch über die Frage entschieden werden, ob Brüssel die Wirtschaftssanktionen gegen Moskau verlängert. Aus Deutschland und Frankreich kommt offenbar eine klare Empfehlung.

UN Security Council to discuss worsening situation in eastern Ukraine

The UN Security Council will meet on Tuesday behind closed doors to discuss a worsening situation in eastern Ukraine at the request of Kiev, SC President Olof Skoog has told reporters.

Ukrainian paramilitary supported by army attacked rebels in East – Peskov, citing Kremlin data

The latest escalation of violence in eastern Ukraine was caused by an attack from Ukrainian paramilitary units, the Kremlin said, citing its own data and rejecting accusations by Kiev, which said Russia is responsible for it.

Russia Sanctions Must be Tied to Progress on Ukraine Peace: Gabriel

Germany and France agree that any moves to lift sanctions against Russia must be tied to progress in the peace process for eastern Ukraine, Sigmar Gabriel said on Saturday.

No breakthroughs at Normandy Format meeting: Russian FM

Tuesday's meeting of the Normandy quartet foreign ministers has made no breakthroughs, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

Ukrainian military open fire on Donetsk Republic

Units of the Ukrainian military over the past 24 hours, 1,510 times opened fire on the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), one militia was injured, representative of the defense authority Eduard Basurin told the Donetsk News Agency on Saturday.

European leaders, Obama agree Russia sanctions should be maintained

European leaders and the President of the United States agreed on Friday to maintain sanctions against Russia, according to the White House.

State Department: Russia-U.S. relations complicated

The relations between Russia and the United States are complicated, the two countries do not share views on all issues, U.S. Department of State spokesman John Kirby said Friday at a daily press briefing.

Russia must comply with Minsk Protocol or sanctions will continue: John Kerry

The United States warned Russia on Thursday that if it wants to ease US-European Union sanctions it must abide by regional ceasefire agreements it has signed.

Kiev won't recognize leaders of Ukraine's self-proclaimed republics — FM

Ukraine will not recognize the legitimacy of the leaders of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR), Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavel Klimkin said on Wednesday.

Ukraine FM says Minsk process may be frozen due to the sides’ disagreement

The Minsk process may be frozen because of disagreement by the sides, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said after the Normandy Four foreign ministers had met in Berlin earlier on Wednesday.

France ready to facilitate preparation of decision on lifting anti-Russian sanctions

France is ready to facilitate the preparation of a decision on lifting anti-Russian sanctions which will be discussed at EU’s summit at the end of June or beginning of July, French Senate Speaker Gerard Larcher said on Tuesday.

Poroshenko: Blocking constitution changes can lead to full-scale conflict with Russia

Torpedoing the Minsk peace deal and not changing Ukraine's constitution would lead to a full-scale war with Russia.

Normandy Quartet to Discuss New Deadline for Minsk Deal Implementation

The Normandy Quartet will discuss a new deadline for the Minsk Agreements fulfillment at the next meeting, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Monday, as cited by his press service.

UN SC session on Ukraine ends with handshake by Russian envoy, Ukrainian FM

The UN Security Council on Friday held the first open session on Ukraine over the past five months to discuss the implementation of the Minsk Accords for settling the conflict, the humanitarian affairs and the human rights situation.

US to Russia: Let Badly Needed Aid Reach Eastern Ukraine

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations is urging Russia to honor the Minsk peace deal and allow badly needed humanitarian aid into Ukraine.

Kiev completes arms pullout from eastern front (Army)

Ukraine's military said Saturday it has finished withdrawing its weapons from the eastern frontline with pro-Russia rebels, where clashes have erupted in recent days despite a ceasefire.

US welcomes elections delay in eastern Ukraine

The US State Department on Tuesday hailed the decision of Ukraine's independence-seeking insurgents to postpone their local elections.