Some more Ukraine-related developments now, courtesy of RFE/RL's news desk and Washington bureau:
A bill to provide defensive weapons to Ukraine and expand sanctions against Russian defense firms passed the U.S. Senate on December 11.
The Ukraine Freedom Support Act passed the chamber by a voice vote. Senators Robert Menendez (Democrat-New Jersey) and Bob Corker (Republican-Tennessee) sponsored the bill, which passed unanimously out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on September 18.
It remains unclear whether the U.S. House will have time to bring the bill up for a vote, as lawmakers are getting ready to leave for the year.
The bill authorizes $350 million to provide Ukraine with defensive weaponry; grants Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia major non-NATO ally status; and authorizes $50 million in short-term energy assistance to Ukraine.
The Obama administration has thus far declined to give Ukraine defensive lethal aid.
It seems there may be a bit of controversy surrounding a member of Putin's entourage, who accompanied the Russian president on his trip to India (from RFE/RL's news desk):
A spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department says Washington is "troubled" by reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin's delegation to India may have included the controversial figure who has headed Crimea since the Ukrainian territory was annexed by Russia earlier this year.
Spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on December 11 that Washington is cognizant of the fact that New Delhi officials say they were "not officially aware" of a visit by Sergei Aksyonov.
Psaki said U.S. officials are seeking further clarification.
The Reuters news agency reported that Aksyonov met unofficially with a Mumbai businessman to discuss trade in Crimea after traveling on Putin's plane to India.
India does not support Western sanctions against Russia and pro-Russian figures in Crimea and eastern Ukraine -- which target Aksyonov among others.
The reported visit by Aksyonov may be an irritant in relations between New Delhi and Washington ahead of U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to India in January.
(Reuters, AP, Interfax, AFP)