REX TILLERSON/RUSSIA/STATE/UKRAINE: “U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Wednesday [12-6-17] he is hopeful that Moscow and Washington can bridge differences and agree on a peacekeeping force for Ukraine.
U.S. and Russian negotiators have been trying to reach a deal on a peacekeeping force in Eastern Ukraine that could help stop the fighting between the Kiev government and the Russian-backed separatist force.
Mr. Tillerson, speaking at the Brussels headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, struck an optimistic noted saying the talks about the peacekeeping force were significant.
But major differences remain between the Russian and American proposals. Russia wants the force to operate on the conflict line in eastern Ukraine. The U.S. proposed a force of 20,000 that could operate throughout the area, including on the border between Russia and Ukraine…
Russian officials didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.”
-Julian E. Barnes, “Tillerson Is Hopeful on Agreement for Ukraine Peace Force,” The Wall Street Journal online, Dec. 6, 2017 09:33am