Snapshot: Three days of Russian air strikes on Syria And Criticisms, Paris States 3 Conditions to Cooperate with Russia in Syria

Sukhoi warplanes used by Russia in Syria anti-terror

A snapshot of developments since Russia's first air strikes on Syria, an intervention the West says is directed more at regime opponents than Islamic State group jihadists.

On Friday, French President Francois Hollande and Russia's Vladimir Putin had an in-depth discussion on Syria on Friday in which they "tried to narrow down differences on political transition," an aide to Hollande said after the two met in Paris.

The aide did not say if they had succeeded in any way in the 1h15-minute conversation, which took place ahead of a meeting the two men had with the leaders of Germany and Ukraine aimed at resolving the Ukraine crisis.

BREAKING: Obama, announcing new sanctions against Russia, says Moscow has failed to take any steps to de-escalate Ukraine cri…

US president barack Obama today announcing new sanctions against Russia, says Moscow has failed to take any steps to de-escalate Ukraine crisis.

details later..

Ukraine ready to sign EU trade deal ‘immediately’ - Poroshenko

Ukraine’s President-elect Petro Poroshenko is ready to sign a deal establishing free trade between the EU and Ukraine, right after his inauguration on June 7. The agreement lies at the heart of the Ukraine crisis and he hopes it will help “restore peace".

"I'm ready to sign the economic part of the Association Agreement and to enter a free trade zone with the EU immediately after the inauguration," Poroshenko said during a meeting in Warsaw on Wednesday with Austrian President Heinz Fischer.

Kiev signed the political part of the trade agreement, which will break down barriers between Ukraine’s $145 billion economy and Europe’s nearly $17 trillion economy.

It had been reported that Poroshenko may be hesitant to sign the agreement, as he may need some time to address Ukraine’s desperate internal problems first, and not rush into foreign partnerships.

Ukraine Crisis: President Putin oversees planned military drills on countering nuclear strike

President Vladimir Putin has overseen military drills on countering nuclear strike. The planned drills come ahead of the May 9 celebrations dedicated to victory in World War II.

"We are carrying out tests of the readiness of the Russian armed forces. It was announced last November. The exercises will involve all branches of the armed forces across the country," Putin told reporters at the Defense Ministry.

Ukraine Unrest: Kerry and Lavrov fail to reach a deal

United States Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, have discussed ways to defuse the Ukraine crisis during their Paris  talks in which Mr Kerry made clear Washington still considered Russian actions in Crimea "illegal and illegitimate."

Lavrov reaffirmed Russia positions and her commitment to finding a diplomatic solution in Ukraine but had not agreed to move Russian troops from the Ukraine border.

Crimea Updates: Kerry, Lavrov meet in Paris today

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry changed course after a week of travel in the Mideast and arrived in Paris Saturday for talks with his Russian counterpart, Lavrov  on the Ukraine crisis. From Saudi Arabia, Kerry landed in Shannon, Ireland for a refueling stop, when he decided to turn his plane around and head to Paris. 

White House: Russian Putin calls Obama to discuss U.S. proposal on Ukraine

President Vladimir Putin of the Russia Federation has called the U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday to discuss a U.S. proposal for Ukraine


White House confirmed his call, adding that President Obama mandated him that Russia must pull back its troops from Ukraine's boarder and not move deeper any more.

BREAKING: Ukraine's defense ministry has been given orders to withdraw Ukrainian forces from Crimea: acting presiden

Ukraine’s Defence Ministry has been given orders to withdraw Ukrainian forces from Crimea – acting President (Reuters)

Crimea referendum to join Russia

Crimea votes Sunday in a referendum to break away and join Russia.


International community has described the process as illegitimate.


Here are some relevant information about the vote:


99 percent of the polling stations for Sunday's vote are ready. Polls are open from 8am-8pm local time (06 GMT- 18 GMT)

Putin vetoes UN resolution as Crimea polling stations prepare for referendum

As Crimea crisis remain unresolved, Russia has vetoed a Western-backed resolution condemning the Crimea referendum at a UN Security Council emergency vote on Saturday, while China abstained, isolating Moscow further on the Ukraine crisis.


The UN draft resolution, which says Sunday's referendum would have no validity, got 13 votes in the 15-member Council. But it was rejected when permanent member Russia exercised its veto.

Ukrainian Army confront Russian forces on strip alongside Crimea, Putin sees no "Cold War" because of Ukraine

Ukraine's military scrambled aircraft and paratroops to confront Russian troops landing on a spit of land between Crimea and the mainland, defence officials said and the foreign ministry demanded their immediate withdrawal.

The border guard service said Ukrainian forces had taken up defensive positions on Arbatskaya Strelka, running parallel to the east of Crimea, now controlled by Russian forces.  It said about 60 Russian troops had landed on the strip and begun digging in, assisted by three armoured personnel carriers.

Ukraine crisis: Putin ordered troops to return to base in a news conference

Russian leader Vladamir Putin has ordered the Russian troops that took part in military exercises this week to return to base, Russian news agencies quoted the Kremlin spokesman as saying, according to Reuters news agency

The Russian military exercises, which Moscow denied were linked to events in Ukraine, had been a success, Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday. The exercises took place across western Russia, an area which borders Ukraine.