Ukraine rebels want a separate state and name it Novorossiya

In keeping with the measures outlined in the 5 September ceasefire agreement signed by President Petro Poroshenko, the rebel-controlled regions of eastern Ukraine have been granted self-rule and fighters have been given an amnesty bbc.com.
This is as per a new law adopted by parliament.
This amnesty would affect rebels in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, but will not cover the shooting down of the MH17 plane. In view of this amnesty, the pro-Russian separatists who have been taken prisoner in the fighting should now be released. Simultaneously, the rebels who are holding government buildings in the east should now vacate them, hand over prisoners and surrender their weapons.
However, a section of the rebels are demanding full independence, and want to create a new state called "Novorossiya" – it is similar to what Russian President Vladimir Putin had talked about in his speeches. Incidentally, heavy shelling around the government-held airport of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine have been reported in spite of the fragile ceasefire.
Pro-Russian rebels have been engaged in heavy fighting with government forces in Donetsk and Luhansk since April - a month after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula – and, till date, nearly 3,000 people have been killed in the conflict and over 310,000 have been internally displaced in Ukraine as per UN statistics.
While Ukraine and the West continue to accuse Russia of providing the rebels with regular soldiers and heavy weapons, Russia continues any direct involvement.
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EU pushing Russia into a corner on Ukraine issue with threats of more sanctions

Leaders of the European Union have warned that Russia is "practically in a state of war against Europe" as the ongoing crisis in Ukraine continues to deteriorate and appears to be rapidly going out of control and approaching "the point of no return" nzherald.co.nz. As per latest figures of the UN, the death toll in the conflict stands at almost 2600.
At a summit in Brussels, the EU leaders have gathered to discuss toughened economic sanctions on Moscow – the sanctions are aimed at specific targets who are involved in Russia's finances namely, oligarchs who are linked to President Vladimir Putin and the country's vast mineral wealth.
The EU leaders have given Russia one week to reverse the course in Ukraine or, alternately, be prepared to face a new round of sanctions.
European Union President Herman Van Rompuy has revealed that the 28 leaders have agreed to take "further significant steps" if Moscow did not back down. The European Commission, which is the executive arm of EU, has been asked to produce options for new sanctions within a week.
Van Rompuy has remarked that everyone is fully aware that we have to act quickly given the evolution on the ground and the tragic loss of life of the last days.
Dalia Grybauskaite, the President of Lithuania and a staunch critic of Putin, has asked the EU to get serious as Russia's war in the Ukraine menaced peace in Europe for the first time in decades. She has added that Russia is practically in a state of war against Europe.
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Russia hoodwinks Ukraine – sends military equipment in guise of humanitarian aid

Russia hoodwinks Ukraine – sends military equipment in guise of humanitarian aid

Russia has played a game of deceit by sending into Ukraine military supplies in the guise of humanitarian aid news.sky.com. It seems the 200 aid trucks were in reality carrying production equipment from two military plants.
The convoy of 200 vehicles has entered Ukraine without obtaining permission of the authorities and left after depositing the cargo.
The military spokesman Andriy Lysenko has said that the trucks had taken equipment from a factory in Luhansk that makes firearm magazines and a Topaz plant that produces radars. Following the departure of the convoy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived in Kiev for talks with Ukraine's pro-Western leaders on the conflict – this conflict has already claimed over 2,200 lives.
Ukraine has kept up the pressure on the pro-Russian group and has continued to pound rebel strongholds like Luhansk and Donetsk, where water has been cut off and supplies of essential goods are dwindling.
The plans of Angela Merkel call for a bilateral ceasefire ahead of talks between President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko. In her opinion, there must be two sides to be successful because one cannot achieve peace on his own.
She is hopeful that the talks would be successful – as she remarked: the plans are on the table - now actions must follow.
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