Crisis in Ukraine: Daily Briefing
23 February 2016, 8PM Kyiv time
1. Russian Invasion of Ukraine
The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (RNBO) reported at 12:30 PMKyiv time that yesterday towards Donetsk, Russian-terrorist forces shelled Ukrainian positions at Opytne with mortars. Russian-terrorist forces fired on Ukrainian positions at Novhorodske and Avdiyivka. Towards Mariupol, Russian-terrorist forces shelled Ukrainian positions at Krasnohorivka and Hnutove. There was no combat on the Luhansk sector of the front. The RNBO reported that in the last 24 hours no Ukrainian soldiers were killed and two were wounded in action.
2. Ukraine’s President meets with German, French Foreign Ministers
On 22 February, Ukraine’s President P. Poroshenko met with German Minister of Foreign Affairs F.W. Steinmeier and French Minister of Foreign Affairs J.M. Ayrault. Poroshenko’s press service reported, “The parties discussed the situation in the east of Ukraine and the fulfillment of the Minsk agreements. President Poroshenko expressed concern over numerous violations of the ceasefire regime by Russia-controlled militants and their use of prohibited weaponry. The interlocutors stated necessity of political will from Russia for cessation of shelling. […] Petro Poroshenko stressed the importance of preserving sanctions against Russia for it to fulfill the Minsk agreements. The interlocutors coordinated further actions on the eve of the meeting of the Foreign Ministers in the Normandy format that will be held in Paris onMarch 3.”
3. US President speaks with Russian President
On 22 February, US President B. Obama spoke with Russian President V. Putin. The White House reported that President Obama “emphasized the importance of the fulfilment by combined Russian-separatist forces in eastern Ukraine of their obligations under the Minsk agreements, particularly honoring the cease-fire and permitting the Special Monitoring Mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) full access to the conflict area including the international border. The President underscored the importance of quickly reaching agreement on modalities for holding free and fair elections in eastern Ukraine that meet OSCE standards.”
4. European Parliament to host Ukraine week 29 February-2 March
The European Parliament will host a “Ukraine week” 29 February to 2 March “on capacity-building of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. ‘Ukraine week’ will allow for MEPs, national MPs and representatives from other EU institutions and international organisations to share their experience with more than 40 Ukrainian parliamentarians, including the leadership of Ukrainian parliament, on good parliamentary practices, law-making and representation. […] ‘Ukraine week’ will end on Wednesday (2 March) by the signature of an ‘Administrative cooperation agreement’ between the European and Ukrainian Parliament’s Secretariats,” Ukraine’s Mission to the EU reported
