Ukrainian forces scored major tactical victories this weekend against pro-Russian rebels. Ukraine's military appears to be gaining the upper hand against the separatists, according to a BBC reporter, who suspects the end result of the conflict will be a more nationalist and anti-Russian Ukraine.
Russia declared an end to its ten-year operation in the autonomous republic of Chechnya today. The move is a step towards normalizing the relations between the two countries. For more we turn to Olexiy Solohubenko, Russia analyst for the BBC.