Ukraine War Day 52: Pentagon Says Russian Troops Retreat From Border

Interfax-Ukraine
June 5, 2014
Russian troops moving slowly from borders with Ukraine – US
 
U.S. State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf has said that Russia is removing its troops from the borders with Ukraine though, at a slow pace.
“Many of them have moved, many of them have made preparations to move. They are moving slowly, but they’re working on that,” she said a briefing on Wednesday.
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Interfax-Ukraine
June 4, 2014
Active phase of ATO continues outside Sloviansk – Selezniov
 
The active phase of the anti-terrorist operation near Sloviansk continues, head of the Kyiv official information group Vladyslav Selezniov said.
“The active phase of the anti-terrorist operation proceeds, clearing of Krasny Lyman is under way and clashes near Sloviansk continue,” Selezniov told Interfax-Ukraine on Wednesday.
According to the official, in the past 24 hours two Ukrainian servicemen died and 45 were injured. “As to militants, the number of killed amounts to around 300 and of injured to about 500,” Selezniov said.
On June 3, Ukrainian special service reported to acting Ukrainian President, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Oleksandr Turchynov that north of the Donetsk region was cleared from militia, fortified area in Semenivka was destroyed and control was set over Krasny Lyman.
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National Radio Company of Ukraine
June 4, 2014
Obama says world should support Poroshenko
The international community should support the new president of Ukraine confronting separatists in the country’s east, U.S. President Barack Obama said at a joint briefing with President-elect of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko in Warsaw on Wednesday.
“Ukraine has gone through a very challenging time. And what we have seen has been an incredible outpouring of democracy in the face of actions by Russia as well as armed militias in certain portions of the east who violate international law and international sovereignty,” Obama said. Obama said Poroshenko’s election represented the rejection of violence and corruption by the people of Ukraine and called his election a “wise selection”. “We stand together because we believe that people and nations have the right to determine their own destiny – that includes the people of Ukraine,” the U.S. leader noted. Obama and Poroshenko also discussed Poroshenko’s plans to restore peace in the contested regions, as well as ways to improve Ukraine’s fragile economy and diversify its energy portfolio to make it less dependent on Russia. The U.S. president also announced new U.S. assistance for Ukraine’s armed forces at $5 million, including body armor, night vision goggles and communications equipment. “I have been deeply impressed by his vision, partly because of his experience as a businessman,” Obama added. “The United States is absolutely committed to standing behind the Ukrainian people not just in the coming days weeks but in the coming years,” he said.

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