About: Donbas
Russian mercenaries deploy to eastern Ukraine
Russian mercenaries have deployed to separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine in recent weeks to bolster defences against Ukrainian government forces as tensions between Moscow and the West rise, four sources have told Reuters.
Ukraine accuses former president Poroshenko of high treason
Ukrainian authorities placed former president Petro Poroshenko under formal investigation for high treason on Monday (20 December), accusing him of links to financing separatist forces in the eastern Donbass region.
Ukraine mobilises NATO’s diplomatic and political means over Russia troops build-up
After Kyiv and Moscow traded blame over the worsening situation in the eastern Donbas region, Ukraine was able to mobilise its Western allies at political level, with several high-level meetings planned this week.
EU demands access to Donbas for international organisations during coronavirus restrictions
Russian-backed armed formations in the breakaway Donbas region have since Saturday (21 March) denied access to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe's (OSCE) mission monitoring the conflict, Ukraine's State Border Guard Service reported on Tuesday.
Risk still there for Ukraine to become frozen conflict – OSCE chief
Despite recent rapprochement between Ukraine and Russia, the full implementation of the Minsk agreements is still "miles away" and there is still a risk that the separatist regions could turn into another "frozen conflict", OSCE Secretary-General, Thomas Greminger, said in an interview with EURACTIV.
Ukraine’s Zelenskiy wants ‘legitimate’ local elections in Donetsk, Luhansk
Addressing the Munich Security Conference on Saturday (15 February), Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy repeated his plea for Western support, while indicated his openness to hold local elections in the separatist-held regions of Donetsk and Lugansk together with the rest of the country in October.
USA is increasingly problematic, EU should restore ties with Russia
Washington, the European Union’s main ally, has in recent years earned the reputation of a country that creates rather than solves problems. But the EU can now normalise and restore recently broken relations with Russia, which has been and will...
In surprise move, Borrell says will visit Ukraine’s disputed region of Donbas
EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said on Tuesday (28 January) he intends to visit Ukraine in the coming weeks, including the disputed region of Donbas which is under the control of pro-Russia separatists.
Ukraine and Donbas separatists exchange 200 prisoners in controversial swap
Ukraine and Russia-backed separatists in the country's war-torn east exchanged 200 prisoners on Sunday, swapping detained fighters for civilians and servicemen held captive in some cases for years in two breakaway regions.
Normandy summit upholds ‘Steinmeier formula’ for Eastern Ukraine
Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in their first face-to-face meeting, took part in nine hours of talks in Paris on Monday (9 November), brokered by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Don’t cede too much to Putin, Ukrainians tell Zelenskiy ahead of Paris summit
Thousands of people gathered in the center of Kyiv on Sunday (8 December) to send a message to Ukraine’s president, who meets his Russian counterpart on Monday, that Ukrainians will not accept a peace deal at the cost of the country’s independence and sovereignty.
Donbas foes to pull back troops ahead of Normandy-type summit
Ukraine's army and Kremlin-backed separatists are set Friday (8 November) to complete the last phase of a troop pullback in the war-torn east in a key step towards a high-stakes summit with Russia.
Ukraine sees hope for ‘last chance’ peace summit in mid-November
The leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany could hold a summit in Paris in mid-November if Kyiv and pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine can maintain a ceasefire, Ukraine’s foreign minister said on Monday (14 October), warning of a “last chance” for Moscow.
Ukraine peace drive hits first bump, but Moscow says ‘Normandy’ summit possible
Ukraine on Wednesday (9 October) refused to pull back troops in its restive east, saying for the second time this week that continued shelling by pro-Russian separatists there precluded the implementation of a disengagement agreement.
Thousands rally in Kyiv to protest the ‘Steinmeier formula’ for eastern Ukraine
Thousands of people gathered in Kyiv's main square on Sunday (6 October) to protest against President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's deal with Moscow to grant autonomy to Ukraine's pro-Russian rebel-held east as part of efforts to end a five-year conflict there.
Hopko: Russia is killing the Minsk Agreement every day
A summit between Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany is expected to take place within days in an effort to settle the conflict in Eastern Ukraine. But such a summit is pointless, especially when Putin will play his role of 'нас тут нет' (we are not here), says Hanna Hopko.
Zelenskiy pushes for Donbas election, faces domestic backlash
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday (3 October) that Ukrainian candidates should take part in an election that is expected to be held in the east of the country, currently controlled by pro-Russian rebels.
EU Commission hopeful of Russia-Ukraine thaw as many in Kyiv denounce ‘capitulation’
The European Commission commended on Thursday (3 October) a recent diplomatic meeting in the Belarus capital Minsk, which gives hope for an international summit to stop the fighting in Eastern Ukraine. But many in Ukraine see the development as “capitulation”.
Lithuania wants EU to bar east Ukraine’s Russian passports
Lithuania is working with the European Union to establish a common policy not to recognise Russian passports issued in east Ukraine, currently controlled by Moscow-backed separatists, Vilnius said Tuesday (6 August).
Russia offers passports to east Ukraine, president-elect decries ‘aggressor state’
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an order on Wednesday (24 April) simplifying the procedure for obtaining a Russian passport for residents of separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine, prompting calls from Kyiv for more international sanctions.
Chizhov: The Ukraine conflict is not in Russia’s interest
In an exclusive interview, the long-serving Russian ambassador to the EU Vladimir Chizhov provided insight on his country’s position on the Azov Sea situation, which led to the cancelling of a meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Argentina.
Russia tests the waters for Donbas referendum
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said on Thursday (26 July) that the question of holding a referendum in eastern Ukraine was touched upon at a meeting of representatives of Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine in Berlin, the RIA news agency reported.