Ukraine forces abandon airport
Ukrainian troops were forced to retreat from Lugansk airport in the face of a Russian troop attack
Kiev: Ukrainian troops were forced to retreat from Lugansk airport in the face of a Russian troop attack and Moscow soldiers moved into key cities in the east on Monday, Kiev said, a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin evoked “statehood” discussions for the conflict-torn east.
Mr Putin accused Europe of ignoring the Ukrainian military’s “direct targeting” of civilians in the conflict and said the offensive pushed by insurgents there were simply an attempt to expel Kiev’s forces from residential areas.
He also urged the EU to show “common sense” after its threat to impose more sanctions on Moscow over the months-long crisis that has sank East-West relations to their lowest level since the Cold War.
The latest accusations of Russian troops partaking in the fighting that has pitted pro-Moscow rebels against Kiev’s troops came as a “contact group” of Russian, Ukrainian and OSCE representatives was due to discuss the conflict during a meeting in Minsk.
Ukraine’s defence minister said that Russian troops were moving in the main cities of Lugansk and Donetsk.
He warned that a “great war” has broken out with Russia over his country’s future that could claim many lives.