Pro-Russian rebels shoot down Ukrainian fighter aircraft as ministers meet for talks
A Ukrainian jet fighter was shot down by pro-Russian rebels yesterday, just before key talks between Kiev and Moscow, aimed at de-escalating the fighting in the east of Ukraine.
According to Agence France-Presse, Ukrainian officials revealed a MiG – 29 was downed as it flew to "eliminate a large group of terrorists."
The timing of the news is particularly unfortunate as Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers are preparing to meet in Berlin for talks.
Ukranian minister Pavlo Klimkin and Russia's Sergey Lavrov will be joined by France's foreign minister Laurent Fabius and Frank-Walter-Steinmeier, their German counterpart, as the group attempt to negotiate and end to hostilities.
The clash came as tensions were raised by rebel boasts that Russia has trained 1,200 fighters and fears regarding the authenticity of Russia's attempts to send an aid convoy to the city of Luhansk.