Here is today's map of the security situation in eastern Ukraine, according to the National Security and Defense Council:
JUST IN FROM OUR NEWS DESK:
A senior adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, Kellyanne Conway, suggested in televised comments that lifting U.S. sanctions on Russia is "under consideration."
Conway made the remark on Fox News on January 27, when she was asked about a telephone call planned for January 28 between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The questioner said that "some have suggested" that sanctions imposed on Russia by former President Barack Obama's administration "are going to be on the table right away" and asked, "What can you tell me about the agenda?"
"All of that is under consideration," Conway said.
Freedom House Condemns Arrest Of Crimean Tatar Journalist, Lawyer
By RFE/RL
Freedom House has condemned the arrest of lawyer Emil Kurbedinov and his client Seyran Saliev by Russian-imposed prosecutors in Ukraine's Moscow-annexed Crimea region.
Robert Herman, the vice president for international programs at Freedom House, is demanding the immediate release of Kurbedinov and Saliev.
A court in the Crimea's capital of Simferopol on January 26 sentenced Kurbedinov to 10 days in jail for publishing video footage from a Hizb ut-Tahrir rally in 2013 -- the year before Russia illegally annexed Crimea.
Saliev was arrested the same day and could face terrorism charges.
Both Kurbedinov and Saliev are Crimean Tatars.
Russia has been heavily criticized by international rights groups and Western governments for its treatment of Crimea's indigenous Turkic-speaking, mainly Muslim people since Russia seized control of the Ukrainian region in March 2014.
Arrests, disappearances, and killings of Crimean Tatars have been reported.
McCain Vows To Cement Sanctions Against Russia If Trump Tries To Lift Them
By RFE/RL
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator John McCain says he will pursue legislation that would cement sanctions against Russia into law if President Donald Trump decides to lift them.
McCain, a Republican from Arizona, made the pledge in a January 27 statement, a day before a planned phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Earlier on January 27, senior Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway said in a television interview that lifting U.S. sanctions that were imposed against Russia over its actions in Ukraine and elsewhere was "under consideration."
McCain noted that the January 28 phone call between Trump and Putin comes "amid widespread speculation that the White House is considering lifting sanctions against Russia."
"For the sake of America's national security and that of our allies, I hope President Trump will put an end to this speculation and reject such a reckless course," McCain said. "If he does not, I will work with my colleagues to codify sanctions against Russia into law."
McCain, a vocal critic of Putin, called the Russian president a "murderer and a thug who seeks to undermine American national security interests."
Moscow has repeatedly accused McCain of stirring up anti-Russian sentiment.
Trump’s stated desire to seek better relations with Russia has triggered criticism from both Republicans and Democrats in Congress.
From RFE/RL's News Desk:
Trump Says It's Too Early To Discuss Lifting Russia Sanctions
WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump says it is too early to be discussing the possibility of lifting sanctions against Russia but that he hopes to have a "great relationship" with Moscow.
Trump’s comments at a January 27 news conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May came one day ahead of his planned phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin and amid widespread speculation that he could scrap sanctions imposed on Moscow over its actions in Ukraine.
"As far as the sanctions, very early to be talking about that," Trump told reporters following his meeting with May, his first face-to-face talks with a foreign leader since his inauguration last week.
Earlier on January 27, senior Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway said the lifting of U.S. sanctions imposed against Russia over its actions in Ukraine and elsewhere was "under consideration."
During the news conference, Trump repeated his desire to improve ties between Moscow and Washington -- which were badly frayed over Russia's 2014 seizure and illegal annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region and Moscow's support for pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine.
"If we could have a great relationship with Russia, and with China, and with all countries, I'm all for that," Trump said.
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Former Separatist Leader From Luhansk Reportedly Dies In Russia
Russian media reports say a former leader of Russia-backed separatists in Ukraine's Luhansk region has died in Russia at the age of 46.
Reports say Valeriy Bolotov, a Luhansk businessman who acted as a separatist leader in the region in 2014, was found dead in his apartment in Russia on January 27.
There were conflicting reports about whether his apartment was in Moscow or outside the Russian capital.
There was no immediate confirmation of the cause of Bolotov's death, though Russian state media quoted sources as saying he died of a heart attack.
Several prominent separatists have died or been killed in murky circumstances, while others have survived assassination attempts.
Bolotov himself survived an attempted assassination during his time as a self-declared leader in Luhansk.
Infighting among the Russia-backed separatists has repeatedly bubbled into public view since their war against the Kyiv government's forces broke out in April 2014.
Despite significant evidence of Russia's involvement in eastern Ukraine, Moscow denies supporting the separatists with troops and weaponry.