An explosion that rocked a cafe in central Donetsk city, in eastern Ukraine, has killed Aleksandr Zakharchenko, the leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, and injured several other top officials. “The head of the DPR, Aleksandr Zakharchenko, has died as a result of a terrorist act,” a spokesperson of the self-proclaimed republic’s administration told journalists, revealing... 

The problem of Donbass residents’ legal status is quite serious. While Ukraine does not need these people, simplified procedure to get Russian citizenship will be put into effort. Denis Pushilin, Vice Chairman of the People’s Council of the Donetsk People’s Republic claimed that Abkhazia-, South Ossetia-, and  -like passportization is going to be introduced. Vladimir Karasyov, an... 

Mikhail Gorbachev: “I’m really extremely worried”. If there is to be a war between NATO and Russia, it will begin the Donbass region of Ukraine. On Monday Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the regime in Kiev is preparing a new offensive in the contested area, a move that would violate the Minsk II ceasefire signed in February. Last week seven Ukrainian soldiers were killed... 

Donbass is at the threshold of renewal of full-scale warfare, as Kiev violates every single term of the Minsk ceasefire protocol on daily basis, bombing both residential and public areas on the east of Ukraine, says American journalist Stephen Lendman. Special troops from the US and the UK are actively preparing Ukrainian forces for the escalation of conflict in the Donbass region, Lendman wrote in... 

Ambassadors from the European Union member states have agreed to prolong until 2016 the bloc’s punitive measures against Russia over its alleged involvement in Ukraine’s crisis. On Wednesday, the EU Committee of Permanent Representatives reached an agreement on extending bloc’s economic sanctions against Moscow by six more months, Russia’s Interfax news agency said, citing EU diplomatic source. Envoys... 

The Ukrainian parliament has adopted amendments to state law allowing “admission of the armed forces of other states on the territory of Ukraine.” The possible hosting of foreign weapons of mass destruction is also mentioned in the documents. Amendments to Ukrainian law were adopted on Thursday by the Verkhovna Rada, receiving a majority of 240 votes (the required minimum being 226). The bill... 

Shelling intensified in eastern Ukraine overnight on Wednesday, with Kiev and rebels trading blame for opening fire. Local officials said 19 people, both civilians and militiamen, were killed and over a hundred injured in the bombardment. “With the onset of daylight the Ukrainian artillery carried out a large-scale shelling of settlements in the Donetsk People’s Republic almost on the entire extension... 

The US House has passed a resolution calling on President Barack Obama to send lethal weapons to Ukraine, despite the fragile truce in the eastern part of the country. The non-binding resolution was approved by an overwhelming majority of 348-48. Sending weapons to the Kiev government would not mean involvement in a new war for America, claimed US Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), a Democrat on the House... 

Ukraine has concluded deals with eleven countries of the EU on delivery of weapons, including lethal, President Petro Poroshenko told the country’s TV. He, however, didn’t mention which countries will provide ‘defensive aid’ to Kiev. “The Head of State has informed that Ukraine had contracts with a series of the EU countries on the supply of armament, inter alia, lethal one. He has reminded... 

At least three people have been killed in an explosion in the center of Kharkov, Ukraine, during a peace march, local media report. Around 500 people had gathered in the center of the Kiev-controlled city for a rally. Those marching in the front were hurt, with Tass reporting from the scene that at least 10 people sustained injuries and three others were killed. Other outlets speak of four and eight... 

Some government troops have retreated from the strategic eastern Ukrainian town of Debaltsevo, which has been besieged by pro-Russia forces, sources say. “We are evacuating some of our units,” Ilya Kiva, a local police officer, said on Wednesday morning, adding, “But full-scale street fighting continues, and there was also a small tank battle.” The pro-Russians said they have the town under... 

February 11, 2015. From left: Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko pose for a group photo at Independence Palace in Minsk after restricted attendance peace talks on Ukraine held by the Russian, German, French and Ukrainian leaders. An agreement has been brokered in Minsk to stop hostilities in... 

Ukraine’s government has announced its readiness to impose martial law in case the crisis escalates in the country’s east. “The government and parliament are ready to introduce martial law throughout Ukraine,” Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko told a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. The statement came ahead of a new round of peace negotiations between Kiev and pro-Russia forces in the Belarusian... 

President Petro Poroshenko, who the US, along with the Europeans and NATO, helped place in power after last year’s coup, has declared that he has “no doubt” America’s taxpayers will provide the lethal weapons he desires to fight the separatists in eastern Ukraine. I never had any doubt, either. Of course it’s all to stop “Russian aggression.” NATO’s expansionism is never considered... 

Ukraine’s pro-Russian rebel chief on Monday branded the country’s leaders “miserable” Jews in an apparent anti-Semitic jibe. Alexander Zakharchenko, leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, claimed that Kiev’s pro-Western leaders were “miserable representatives of the great Jewish people”. “I can’t remember a time when Cossacks...