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| Ukraine crisis: Russia has started a great war and deaths will be measured in the thousands, Ukraine's defence minister says | Ukraine crisis: Russia has started a great war and deaths will be measured in the thousands, Ukraine's defence minister says |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Russia is responsible for bringing a “great war” on Europe and will have caused “tens of thousands” of deaths, the Ukrainian Defence Minister Valeriy Heletey has said. | Russia is responsible for bringing a “great war” on Europe and will have caused “tens of thousands” of deaths, the Ukrainian Defence Minister Valeriy Heletey has said. |
| “A great war has arrived at our doorstep, the likes of which Europe has not seen since World War Two,” he wrote on Facebook on Monday. | “A great war has arrived at our doorstep, the likes of which Europe has not seen since World War Two,” he wrote on Facebook on Monday. |
| “Unfortunately, the losses in such a war will be measured not in the hundreds, but thousands and tens of thousands,” he added. | “Unfortunately, the losses in such a war will be measured not in the hundreds, but thousands and tens of thousands,” he added. |
| His comments come as Russia denies arming pro-Moscow insurgents, claiming that there has been and will be no military intervention as it backs a “peaceful settlement of this severe crisis”, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told students yesterday, having already called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. | His comments come as Russia denies arming pro-Moscow insurgents, claiming that there has been and will be no military intervention as it backs a “peaceful settlement of this severe crisis”, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told students yesterday, having already called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. |
| In addition, Russia’s Security Council has announced this morning that it is updating its “military doctrine by the end of 2014 to reflect Nato expansion”. | In addition, Russia’s Security Council has announced this morning that it is updating its “military doctrine by the end of 2014 to reflect Nato expansion”. |
| It also warned that “military aggression against [Russian-controlled] Crimea will be considered aggression against Russia” | It also warned that “military aggression against [Russian-controlled] Crimea will be considered aggression against Russia” |
| It was revealed yesterday that Nato will create a 4,000-strong spearhead force in the region with military equipment stockpiled at bases in Eastern Europe. | It was revealed yesterday that Nato will create a 4,000-strong spearhead force in the region with military equipment stockpiled at bases in Eastern Europe. |
| Its forces will be available within 48 hours should Russia militarily intervene in Ukraine. | Its forces will be available within 48 hours should Russia militarily intervene in Ukraine. |
| US boosts #NATO troops in Baltic States, plans to deploy tanks in Estonia – Russian Security Council | US boosts #NATO troops in Baltic States, plans to deploy tanks in Estonia – Russian Security Council |
| Russian armed forces to receive no less than 230 new planes, helicopters in 2014 - Defense Minister | Russian armed forces to receive no less than 230 new planes, helicopters in 2014 - Defense Minister |
| Clashes erupted on Sunday night between separatists and Ukrainian military, in which rebels pushed back government forces from an airport near Luhansk, the second-largest rebel-controlled city. | Clashes erupted on Sunday night between separatists and Ukrainian military, in which rebels pushed back government forces from an airport near Luhansk, the second-largest rebel-controlled city. |
| The fighting occurred a day before negotiations got underway in Minsk, Belarus, with pro-Russian fighters easing demands for full independence, instead calling for autonomy in a Ukrainian sovereign state. | The fighting occurred a day before negotiations got underway in Minsk, Belarus, with pro-Russian fighters easing demands for full independence, instead calling for autonomy in a Ukrainian sovereign state. |
| Previous crisis talks had failed to reach an agreement, with this round of discussion including Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, Russia’s Ambassador to Ukraine, representation from the separatists, and members of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. | Previous crisis talks had failed to reach an agreement, with this round of discussion including Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, Russia’s Ambassador to Ukraine, representation from the separatists, and members of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. |
| According to a statement from the rebels, distributed by Russia’s state-run RIA Novosti news agency, they are willing to find a resolution to “the preservation of the united economic, cultural and political space of Ukraine”, as long as they can retain local powers including running their own law enforcement. | According to a statement from the rebels, distributed by Russia’s state-run RIA Novosti news agency, they are willing to find a resolution to “the preservation of the united economic, cultural and political space of Ukraine”, as long as they can retain local powers including running their own law enforcement. |
| The talks, which lasted for a number of hours yesterday, has been adjourned until Friday. | The talks, which lasted for a number of hours yesterday, has been adjourned until Friday. |