Ukraine Civil War News Updates -- July 9, 2014

Ukraine's president and his top military advisers agreed on a plan for their army's siege of the pro-Russia rebels' biggest remaining stronghold in Donetsk, saying they would seek to avoid street battles in the city of one million people.

Ukraine Lays Plan to Besiege Rebels in Eastern City -- Wall Street Journal

Military Advisers Say They Will Seek to Avoid Street Battles

Ukraine's president and his top military advisers agreed on a plan for their army's siege of the pro-Russia rebels' biggest remaining stronghold in Donetsk, saying they would seek to avoid street battles in the city of a million people.

President Petro Poroshenko, dressed in military fatigues, told hundreds of troops at a camp near the front lines in eastern Ukraine that recent military victories had strengthened Kiev's position. He said the militants should disarm or face the force of Ukraine's rejuvenated army.

Read more ....

Ukraine Civil War News Updates -- July 9, 2014

Kiev's bloody eastern Ukraine campaign LIVE UPDATES -- RT
Ukraine readies plan to take back lost territory, rebels defiant -- Reuters
Ukraine tightens grip on rebels amid pressure for truce -- Channel News Asia
Ukraine Pushes Offensive as Russia Says Rebels Seek Talks -- Bloomberg
With Talks Uncertain, Ukrainian Rebels Cling to Hope in Strongholds -- NYT
After Slaviansk's fall, splits open in Ukraine rebel ranks -- Reuters
Ukraine conflict: Russia charges pilot over deaths -- BBC
Ukraine Rebels Call Putin a Coward After Russian Inaction -- Time
As Ukraine Separatists Retreat, Russia’s Next Moves Unclear -- VOA
Truce elusive in eastern Ukraine -- Deutsche Welle
Ukraine conflict: EU leaders to push for new truce -- BBC
Russian, French FMs acknowledge Kiev not observing Berlin agreements on resolving Ukraine crisis -- Voice of Russia
Ukraine Pleads For More Aid to Rebuild Devastated Eastern Cities -- IBTimes
Ukraine seeks aid to rebuild regions shattered by separatist war -- Reuters

My Comment: As predicted .... the Ukraine military will now lay siege to the cities of Donetsk and Luhansk ... they do not have the means to storm the city and rout the rebels. This conflict is now entering a stage that I can only assume will last throughout the summer .... expect reports in the coming weeks/months of massive suffering, scores of casualties, massive destruction, and tens of thousands of refugees fleeing the region.