Ukraine preparing for war, claims Moscow

Ukraine’s parliament yesterday passed a bill that aims to reintegrate the eastern territories currently controlled by Russia-backed separatists, and also declares support for taking them back by military force if necessary.

The bill describes the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as “temporarily occupied” by “aggressor country” Russia. Moscow said the draft amounted to preparation for war after it warned that the bill effectively kills the peace accords that Ukraine is party to and that were supposed to resolve the deadly conflict.