Ukraine Parliament Approves New Defense Chief / John Kerry and Russian FM Sergei Lavrov are scheduled to meet in Paris

Ukraine's parliament has approved a new defense minister - the fourth change in leadership since Russia's annexation of Crimea in March.

The head of Ukraine's National Guard, Stepan Poltorak, will take over for Valeriy Heletey, who resigned amid heavy criticism for the crushing defeat of Ukrainian forces east of Donetsk in late August.

Despite a cease-fire agreement signed last month, fighting between government and separatist forces has continued in parts of eastern Ukraine.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are scheduled to meet in Paris on Tuesday with Ukraine and the pullback of Russian troops from the border at the top of their agenda.

On Sunday, Putin ordered more than 17,000 troops to withdraw from an area near the Ukrainian border as he prepares to meet with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko later in the week on the sidelines of an Asia-Europe summit in Milan.

Russia has consistently denied the presence of its troops in Ukraine, while separatist rebel leaders say they have been helped by Russian soldiers.
VOA's Scott Stearns contributed to this report.
 [voanews.com]
14/10/14
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