Ukrainian President Rejects Fugitive Lawmaker's Corruption Accusations, But Shock Waves Extend Abroad
Corruption accusations by a former ally of Ukraine's president have reverberated beyond the country's borders, as fugitive lawmaker Oleksandr Onyshchenko says he’s turned damning recordings over to the FBI. read more
This ends our live blogging for December 7. Be sure to check back tomorrow for our continuing coverage.
Germany Seeks Cooperation From Russia Ahead Of OSCE Meeting
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has demanded that Russia help to defuse tensions in Europe ahead of a gathering of representatives from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Hamburg.
During a "serious" meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, on December 7, Steinmeier's office said the German minister asked for more cooperation from Moscow and also demanded an "immediate humanitarian cease-fire" in Syria.
Earlier, Steinmeier had said he expects little progress in the peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, however, until U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's stance on the matter is known.
Nearly 50 foreign ministers are due to attend the two-day 23rd OSCE Ministerial Council, which begins on December 8. The crises in Syria and Ukraine are expected to dominate the agenda.
Prior to meeting with Steinmeier, Lavrov met with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in what was likely one of their last of a series of meetings on Syria. Kerry will leave office along with President Barack Obama in January.