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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Ukraine crisis: Troops abandon Luhansk airport after clashes | Ukraine crisis: Troops abandon Luhansk airport after clashes |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Ukrainian forces have withdrawn from the airport of the eastern city of Luhansk after all-night clashes with pro-Russian rebels, the military says. | |
| Security officials said the Ukrainian troops had come under attack from a column of Russian tanks. | |
| Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has urged negotiators meeting in the Belarus capital, Minsk, to make an "immediate ceasefire" their priority. | Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has urged negotiators meeting in the Belarus capital, Minsk, to make an "immediate ceasefire" their priority. |
| Some 2,600 people have died in eastern Ukraine since fighting began in April. | Some 2,600 people have died in eastern Ukraine since fighting began in April. |
| The conflict broke out after Russia's annexation of Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula in March. | The conflict broke out after Russia's annexation of Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula in March. |
| The rebels have been gaining ground on Ukrainian forces in recent days, in both the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, and further south around the port of Mariupol. | The rebels have been gaining ground on Ukrainian forces in recent days, in both the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, and further south around the port of Mariupol. |
| Ukraine and the West blame Russian military support for the rebel advances, saying armoured columns have crossed the border - allegations rejected by Russia's President Vladimir Putin. | Ukraine and the West blame Russian military support for the rebel advances, saying armoured columns have crossed the border - allegations rejected by Russia's President Vladimir Putin. |
| He has accused European leaders of ignoring the Ukrainian army "directly targeting civilians". | He has accused European leaders of ignoring the Ukrainian army "directly targeting civilians". |
| On Sunday, he said the issue of "statehood" for eastern Ukraine needed to be discussed to ensure the interests of local people were "definitely upheld". | On Sunday, he said the issue of "statehood" for eastern Ukraine needed to be discussed to ensure the interests of local people were "definitely upheld". |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| 'No military intervention' | 'No military intervention' |
| Ukraine's security council confirmed on Monday that its troops had withdrawn from Luhansk airport "in an organised manner". | Ukraine's security council confirmed on Monday that its troops had withdrawn from Luhansk airport "in an organised manner". |
| Clashes are said to still be taking place near the airport of the city of Donetsk, with separatists claiming that two Ukrainian platoons have surrendered. | Clashes are said to still be taking place near the airport of the city of Donetsk, with separatists claiming that two Ukrainian platoons have surrendered. |
| There were also reports of an attack on a Ukrainian patrol vessel in the Azov Sea on Sunday night. | There were also reports of an attack on a Ukrainian patrol vessel in the Azov Sea on Sunday night. |
| Meanwhile, Ukrainian and Russian officials are due to hold talks with separatist rebels and international monitors in Minsk. | Meanwhile, Ukrainian and Russian officials are due to hold talks with separatist rebels and international monitors in Minsk. |
| The meeting of the so-called Contact Group will include representatives from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. | The meeting of the so-called Contact Group will include representatives from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. |
| Mr Lavrov said he was counting on the talks to focus on "agreeing an immediate and unconditional ceasefire". | Mr Lavrov said he was counting on the talks to focus on "agreeing an immediate and unconditional ceasefire". |
| He also insisted there would be "no military intervention" from Russia in Ukraine. | He also insisted there would be "no military intervention" from Russia in Ukraine. |
| "We are for an exclusively peaceful resolution of that most serious crisis, that tragedy," Mr Lavrov told students in Moscow. | "We are for an exclusively peaceful resolution of that most serious crisis, that tragedy," Mr Lavrov told students in Moscow. |
| Last week's first direct talks between President Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, Petro Poroshenko, did not lead to any major breakthrough. | Last week's first direct talks between President Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, Petro Poroshenko, did not lead to any major breakthrough. |
| Mr Poroshenko on Monday again accused Russia of "direct and open aggression" in eastern Ukraine. | Mr Poroshenko on Monday again accused Russia of "direct and open aggression" in eastern Ukraine. |
| But Mr Putin earlier said Russia could not "stand aside when people are being shot at almost at point blank". | But Mr Putin earlier said Russia could not "stand aside when people are being shot at almost at point blank". |
| He described the rebels' actions as "the natural reaction of people who are defending their rights". | He described the rebels' actions as "the natural reaction of people who are defending their rights". |
| Mr Putin's comments came after the EU gave Russia a one-week ultimatum to reverse course in Ukraine or face more sanctions. | Mr Putin's comments came after the EU gave Russia a one-week ultimatum to reverse course in Ukraine or face more sanctions. |
| The EU and US have already imposed asset freezes and travel bans on many senior Russian officials and separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine. | The EU and US have already imposed asset freezes and travel bans on many senior Russian officials and separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine. |
| War in eastern Ukraine: The human cost | War in eastern Ukraine: The human cost |