07:18
7.6.2014
Good morning. Here's an item from RFE/RL's news desk on how ceremonies have begun in the Ukrainian parliament to install Petro Poroshenko as the country's new president:
The inauguration ceremony for new Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has begun in the Ukrainian parliament.
Among those attending ceremony today are U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, and the Russian charge d'affaires in Kyiv.
Poroshenko succeeds Viktor Yanukovych, who was impeached by parliament in February after fleeing Kyiv following three months of mass protests against his government.
Parliamentary speaker Oleksandr Turchynov, who stood in as acting head of state in the meantime, is standing down.
Hours ahead of the inauguration ceremony in Kyiv, Ukrainian government forces were continuing to battle pro-Russian separatists in the east near Slovyansk and Donetsk.
The inauguration comes a day after Porosehnko met briefly and unofficially in France with Russian President Vladimir Putin during commemoration of the D-Day invasion's 70th anniversary.
Poroshenko succeeds Viktor Yanukovych, who was impeached by parliament in February after fleeing Kyiv following three months of mass protests against his government.
Parliamentary speaker Oleksandr Turchynov, who stood in as acting head of state in the meantime, is standing down.
Hours ahead of the inauguration ceremony in Kyiv, Ukrainian government forces were continuing to battle pro-Russian separatists in the east near Slovyansk and Donetsk.
The inauguration comes a day after Porosehnko met briefly and unofficially in France with Russian President Vladimir Putin during commemoration of the D-Day invasion's 70th anniversary.
07:18
7.6.2014
07:15
7.6.2014
The inauguration ceremony for new Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has begun in the Ukrainian parliament.
21:19
6.6.2014
Barring any dramatic developments we are now closing our live blog for today. Don't forget that you can find all our ongoing Ukraine coverage here.
20:54
6.6.2014
So #Obama and #Putin did meet, and even exchanged some words and awkward facial expressions. https://t.co/BhixkX0Vo6 via @Elysee #DDay70
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) June 6, 2014
20:54
6.6.2014
so much for end to bloodshed. #ukraine interior min says will destroy "brutes ... like mad dogs" http://t.co/BR9aE510nk
— James Marson (@marson_jr) June 6, 2014
20:07
6.6.2014
Here's a transcript of an interesting exchange between French President Francois Hollande and an unidentified war veteran speaking today during the D-Day commemoration ceremony in Normandy. Their talk was picked up by microphones and cameras during the live televised event and a video of the brief discussion was published with subtitles on the Sky News website.
Veteran: Was [Russian President Vladimir] Putin there, was he friendly?
Hollande: Yes, we talked to him and with [Ukrainian President-elect Petro] Poroshenko. We brought Ukraine and Russia together.
Veteran: Did they speak with [U.S. President Barack] Obama?
Hollande: Yes, they spoke.
Veteran: Is it going to work?
Hollande: It must work. We want this ceremony to be useful to the world. Of course we want to commemorate your fight and your courage.
Veteran: I spoke to [Britain's] Prince Philip and apparently he was going to talk to Putin.
Hollande: Yes, he was there as well.
Hollande: Yes, we talked to him and with [Ukrainian President-elect Petro] Poroshenko. We brought Ukraine and Russia together.
Veteran: Did they speak with [U.S. President Barack] Obama?
Hollande: Yes, they spoke.
Veteran: Is it going to work?
Hollande: It must work. We want this ceremony to be useful to the world. Of course we want to commemorate your fight and your courage.
Veteran: I spoke to [Britain's] Prince Philip and apparently he was going to talk to Putin.
Hollande: Yes, he was there as well.
20:01
6.6.2014
Reports of explosions and shooting at #Donetsk airport
— Alec Luhn (@ASLuhn) June 6, 2014
18:46
6.6.2014
RFE/RL's news desk has another update about the informal talks in France earlier today:
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Ukraine's President-elect Petro Poroshenko has "the right approach" to the crisis in eastern Ukraine.
Putin and Poroshenko met on the sidelines of the June 6 D-Day anniversary events in France, their first meeting since Poroshenko was elected president of Ukraine on May 25.
Putin later told reporters that during the 15-minute meeting, he and Poroshenko discussed the main issues related to settling the crisis.
Poroshenko separately told reporters that he sees "good chances" of successful dialogue with Russia.
Putin also spoke with U.S. President Barack Obama at the D-Day ceremonies.
Ben Rhodes, a deputy U.S. national security advisor, said Obama indicated that if Russia engaged with the new government in Kyiv, "there could be openings to reduce tensions."
Putin and Poroshenko met on the sidelines of the June 6 D-Day anniversary events in France, their first meeting since Poroshenko was elected president of Ukraine on May 25.
Putin later told reporters that during the 15-minute meeting, he and Poroshenko discussed the main issues related to settling the crisis.
Poroshenko separately told reporters that he sees "good chances" of successful dialogue with Russia.
Putin also spoke with U.S. President Barack Obama at the D-Day ceremonies.
Ben Rhodes, a deputy U.S. national security advisor, said Obama indicated that if Russia engaged with the new government in Kyiv, "there could be openings to reduce tensions."
17:56
6.6.2014
Watch this: looks like Merkel literally forced Putin & Poroshenko to talk to each other https://t.co/bZ8GSsF935
— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) June 6, 2014