High-level talks fail to diffuse crisis

Eastern Ukraine continues to be a flashpoint, as the conflict in the region becomes labeled by the West an “invasion” by Russia. Despite a high-level meeting in Belarus between Vladimir Putin and Petro Poroshenko, there was no breakthrough that could have lowered the tensions in the rebel-held territories. Meanwhile, Kiev, fresh from Independence Day celebrations over the weekend, found itself with a dissolved Parliament due to accusations that some lawmakers were supporting the rebellion. Later in the week, the US led accusations that Russian troops were on the ground inside Ukrainian territory and aiding the rebels, following pronouncements of the Ukrainian government they have captured Russian soldiers. Putin, meanwhile, appealed for an “aid bridge” in a bid to help the war-torn areas, as the United Nations puts the death toll in the months-long conflict at nearly 2,600.