Ukraine Crisis -- News Updates December 28, 2014

Travel Chaos As Ukraine Suspends Transport Links With Crimea -- Euronews

Thousands of vehicles have been stuck at the border between Ukraine and Crimea, after Kyiv authorities reportedly blocked movements at two out of three crossing points.

It comes after Ukraine stopped rail and bus travel between the mainland and the peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in March.

“It’s a total mess. The mess began right after the referendum (in Crimea), mess on both sides,” said driver Mikhail Semin.

Read more ....

Ukraine Crisis -- News Updates December 28, 2014

Ukraine: All quiet on the eastern front -- Al Jazeera
Two dead after Ukraine rocked by series of blasts -- Mashable
Southern Ukraine: Blasts in Kherson, Odessa -- RT
Kiev, Donetsk Representatives to Meet for Reconciliation Talks Monday -- Sputnik
Ukraine Rebel Official, Kiev Delegation Said to Plan Meeting -- Bloomberg
Ukraine peace talks in interest of all involved, says EU's Brok -- Deutsche Welle
Ukraine Tightens Controls Along Borders With Russia, Rebel Areas -- Bloomberg
Ukrainian prisoners set free as POW swap continues -- Scotsman
Ukraine crisis: Separatist rebels free more soldiers -- BBC
Ukraine’s 2015 budget proposal stirs fresh protests -- Kyiv Post
Ukraine's parliament backs import tax rises amid budget crisis -- Reuters
Poroshenko, Merkel Discuss International Aid for Ukraine -- Sputnik
Poroshenko and Merkel discuss international aid to Ukraine by telephone -- ITAR-TASS
Russia must influence separatists to end Ukraine crisis, says Merkel -- Reuters
Merkel Urges Russia To Use 'Influence' To Push Separatists On Ukraine Peace Talks -- Radio Free Europe
Russian FM Lavrov urges major constitutional reform in Ukraine -- RT
Emergency shutdown at Ukraine’s largest nuclear power plant -- RT
Poroshenko: Ukraine Must Import Electricity Without Intermediaries -- Sputnik
Poroshenko orders government to take measures to stop rolling blackouts -- ITAR-TASS
Luhansk republic ready for resuming railway service with Moscow — official -- ITAR-TASS
Ukraine reopens border with Crimea for passenger cars -- ITAR-TASS
Ukraine says Crimea transport halt temporary -- AFP
Fleeing their country’s civil war, Ukrainian Jews head for Israel -- Washington Post
Unicef: 1.7 million Ukrainian children suffering amid conflict, winter cold -- CNN