Ukraine Civil War News Updates -- September 2, 2014

Ukraine Cites 15,000 Russian Troops and Rebels as Putin Threatens War -- Bloomberg

Russia stepped up its criticism of the U.S. over Ukraine as President Barack Obama heads to eastern Europe to reassure NATO members of their security.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Ukraine’s allies are stoking the five-month conflict and should back peace talks, even as President Vladimir Putin sought to calm concern over remarks his army could “take Kiev” in a matter of weeks. Ukrainian Defense Minister Valeriy Geletey said defenses must be strengthened in the face of a “full-scale invasion” by Russia.

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Ukraine Civil War News Updates -- September 2, 2014

Ukraine crisis: Russian forces reportedly seen in rebel cities Donetsk and Luhansk -- CBC/AP
Ukraine Shifts to Defense Against Russian Incursion -- WSJ
'Russian tank battalion' helps rebels make gains in east Ukraine, Kiev claims -- The Guardian
Ukraine withdraws from Luhansk airport after 'Russian tank column' attack -- The Telegraph
Ukraine's troops retreat from vital airport -- Al Jazeera
Ukraine Suffers Harsh Defeat in Eastern Town -- WSJ
Ukraine crisis: Government setbacks in Luhansk and Donetsk -- BBC
Ukraine clashes force troops to abandon airport before crisis talks -- The Guardian
Ukrainian Military 'Fighting Russian Tank Battalion' Near Donetsk -- Newsweek/Reuters

Ukraine crisis: 'Russia has launched a great war' -- BBC
Ukraine accuses Russia of "undisguised aggression" as rebels advance -- Reuters
Ukraine Warns of Escalation as Obama Set to Visit Area -- Bloomberg

Ukraine war pulls in foreign fighters -- BBC
Thousands of Russian soldiers sent to Ukraine, say rights groups -- The Guardian
HRW: Civilian death toll in E. Ukraine rising due to 'indiscriminate and unlawful' shelling -- RT

Russia calls for cease-fire with rebels, but Ukraine vows to keep up the fight -- Washington Post
Russia Calls on U.S. to Push Ukraine Into Halting Military Campaign -- WSJ
Russian foreign minister calls for immediate ceasefire in Ukraine -- The Guardian
Russian foreign minister urges 'immediate' Ukraine ceasefire -- Deutsche Welle
Hope US won't help Ukraine as it did Libya and Iraq – Lavrov -- RT
Ukraine crisis: US senators urge arms 'to fight Russia' -- BBC

Ukraine rebels pull back from independence demands at cease-fire talks -- FOX News/AP
Ukraine rebels seek "special status", crisis talks to resume on Friday -- Reuters
Pro-Russia Rebels Say They Will Settle For Autonomy In Ukraine -- NPR

EU proposes tough sanctions on Moscow as Ukraine rebels advance -- Reuters
Poroshenko to lead Ukraine delegation at NATO summit in Wales -- ITAR-TASS
UN Security Council meets on Ukraine crisis -- AP

Moscow ready to expose 'Kiev in two weeks' spin with Barroso call transcript -- RT
Russian presidential administration ready to make public Putin-Barroso conversation -- ITAR-TASS
Russia’s EU Envoy: Kremlin Ready to Release Recording of Putin-Barroso Phone Conversation -- RIA Novosti

For now, a tense quiet in Ukraine’s east -- Al Jazeera
We need to tell the truth about what Russia is doing in Ukraine -- Wesley Clark, The Guardian
Russia has started a great war and deaths will be measured in the thousands: Ukraine defense minister -- The Independent