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| Ukraine conflict: Poroshenko boosts military spending | Ukraine conflict: Poroshenko boosts military spending |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Ukraine's president says almost $3bn (£1.8bn) will be spent on re-equipping the army after an "exhausting" campaign against pro-Russian rebels. | Ukraine's president says almost $3bn (£1.8bn) will be spent on re-equipping the army after an "exhausting" campaign against pro-Russian rebels. |
| Petro Poroshenko made the announcement ahead of a military parade to mark Independence Day in the capital Kiev. | Petro Poroshenko made the announcement ahead of a military parade to mark Independence Day in the capital Kiev. |
| Meanwhile, fighting continues in eastern Ukraine, where more than 2,000 people have died in recent months. | Meanwhile, fighting continues in eastern Ukraine, where more than 2,000 people have died in recent months. |
| Pro-Russian fighters have marched dozens of captured Ukrainian soldiers through the city of Donetsk. | Pro-Russian fighters have marched dozens of captured Ukrainian soldiers through the city of Donetsk. |
| The city has been the scene of the heaviest fighting since the conflict erupted. | The city has been the scene of the heaviest fighting since the conflict erupted. |
| Crowds reportedly lined the streets chanting "fascists" at the prisoners. | Crowds reportedly lined the streets chanting "fascists" at the prisoners. |
| 'Constant military threat' | 'Constant military threat' |
| Speaking in Kiev, Mr Poroshenko said that a "constant military threat will hang over Ukraine" for the foreseeable future. | Speaking in Kiev, Mr Poroshenko said that a "constant military threat will hang over Ukraine" for the foreseeable future. |
| He said the investment would be spread out over two years, from 2015-2017. | He said the investment would be spread out over two years, from 2015-2017. |
| "The events of the last months have for us turned into a real war, albeit an undeclared one," Mr Poroshenko said in a televised speech on Sunday. | "The events of the last months have for us turned into a real war, albeit an undeclared one," Mr Poroshenko said in a televised speech on Sunday. |
| "Over the last six months, a new Ukrainian army has been born in heavy and exhausting fighting." | "Over the last six months, a new Ukrainian army has been born in heavy and exhausting fighting." |
| The military parade featured hundreds of marching servicemen and military hardware. Critics said it was inappropriate when Ukraine was at war. | The military parade featured hundreds of marching servicemen and military hardware. Critics said it was inappropriate when Ukraine was at war. |
| A naval parade is also being held in the port of Odessa. | A naval parade is also being held in the port of Odessa. |
| These are the first military parades since 2009, when the previous pro-Russian president, Viktor Yanukovych, abolished them. | These are the first military parades since 2009, when the previous pro-Russian president, Viktor Yanukovych, abolished them. |
| Prayers were said and wreaths laid for those who fought on the Ukrainian government side, including those killed during protests against Mr Yanukovych in Kiev last winter. | Prayers were said and wreaths laid for those who fought on the Ukrainian government side, including those killed during protests against Mr Yanukovych in Kiev last winter. |
| Separately, security officials quoted by Ukrainian media said that five people accused of planning attacks on bases for pro-government volunteers in the Kiev area, timed to coincide with the celebrations, had been arrested. | Separately, security officials quoted by Ukrainian media said that five people accused of planning attacks on bases for pro-government volunteers in the Kiev area, timed to coincide with the celebrations, had been arrested. |
| More than 330,000 people have fled their homes because of fighting in eastern Ukraine. | More than 330,000 people have fled their homes because of fighting in eastern Ukraine. |
| On Saturday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged both sides in the conflict to strive for a new ceasefire, after talks with Mr Poroshenko in Kiev. | On Saturday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged both sides in the conflict to strive for a new ceasefire, after talks with Mr Poroshenko in Kiev. |
| She cautioned that Russia - already subjected to heavy EU and US sanctions over its alleged interference in Ukraine - could face further punitive measures. | She cautioned that Russia - already subjected to heavy EU and US sanctions over its alleged interference in Ukraine - could face further punitive measures. |
| Her visit to Kiev took place as lorries from an unauthorised Russian aid convoy which had crossed into eastern Ukraine returned to Russia. | Her visit to Kiev took place as lorries from an unauthorised Russian aid convoy which had crossed into eastern Ukraine returned to Russia. |
| Western officials fear the trucks may have held military equipment to help the rebels, but Russia said they had delivered generators, food and drinks. | Western officials fear the trucks may have held military equipment to help the rebels, but Russia said they had delivered generators, food and drinks. |
| The violence in the east erupted when pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions declared independence from Kiev, after Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in March. | The violence in the east erupted when pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions declared independence from Kiev, after Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in March. |
| Key negotiations between President Poroshenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin and EU officials are due to take place in Minsk on Tuesday. | Key negotiations between President Poroshenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin and EU officials are due to take place in Minsk on Tuesday. |