The Ukrainian government has announced its forces have retaken the southern city of Mariupol from pro-Russian separatist gunmen, and in heavy fighting has also retaken control of a long stretch of the border with Russia.<br /><br />The port of Mariupol, Ukraine’s biggest on the Sea of Azov, is a key objective as it opens the way to a land link between Ukraine’s east and Crimea, now annexed by Russia but cut off from the rest of the country.<br /><br />There have been suggestions the regional administration of Donetsk, in rebel hands, may be transferred to Mariupol soon, an indication Kyiv may fear a long struggle to retake the Donbas capital, yet a self-styled leader of the Donetsk uprising, Denis Pushilin, now says he is open to the idea of talks, as long as mediators are present.<br /><br />Kyiv continues to press home what it calls its “anti-terrorist” campaign<br />and appears determined to make a clean break with the past. <br /><br />New riot police to replace the hated Berkut are undergoing training in Kyiv in methods that most western experts in crowd control might recognise, with not a sniper’s rifle or water cannon in sight.
