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February 24, 2017 at 6:01 pm | The Associated Press

FILE - In this file photo dated Monday, July 11, 2016, Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko arrives for a meeting with Lithuania's President Dalia Grybauskaite in the Presidential palace in Vilnius, Lithuania, released last month after two years in a Russian prison. According to reports Friday Feb. 24, 2017, Savchenko has visited a prison in the rebel-held eastern Ukrainian city of Makiivka to meet with Ukrainian prisoners there, a trip that has irked many in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Liusjenas Kulbis, FILE)

FILE - In this file photo dated Monday, Aug. 8, 2016, Ukrainian lawmaker and former prisoner of war Nadiya Savchenko speaks through a loudspeaker against the background of portraits of prisoners of war at a rally near the President's Office in Kiev, Ukraine. According to reports Friday Feb. 24, 2017, Savchenko has visited a prison in the rebel-held eastern Ukrainian city of Makiivka to meet with Ukrainian prisoners there, a trip that has irked many in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky, FILE)

FILE - In this file photo dated Monday, July 11, 2016, Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko arrives for a meeting with Lithuania's President Dalia Grybauskaite in the Presidential palace in Vilnius, Lithuania, released last month after two years in a Russian prison. According to reports Friday Feb. 24, 2017, Savchenko has visited a prison in the rebel-held eastern Ukrainian city of Makiivka to meet with Ukrainian prisoners there, a trip that has irked many in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Liusjenas Kulbis, FILE)

FILE - In this file photo dated Monday, Aug. 8, 2016, Ukrainian lawmaker and former prisoner of war Nadiya Savchenko speaks through a loudspeaker against the background of portraits of prisoners of war at a rally near the President's Office in Kiev, Ukraine. According to reports Friday Feb. 24, 2017, Savchenko has visited a prison in the rebel-held eastern Ukrainian city of Makiivka to meet with Ukrainian prisoners there, a trip that has irked many in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky, FILE)

MOSCOW (AP) A Ukrainian lawmaker visited the rebel-held east on Friday to meet with Ukrainian prisoners there, a trip that irked many in Ukraine.

Nadiya Savchenko, a pilot who spent two years in a Russian prison before her release last year, visited a prison in the rebel-held city of Makiivka. Savchenko said on Facebook that her goal is to help free Ukrainian prisoners.

Following the visit, she told reporters that her goal is to arrange an "all for all" exchange of prisoners held by both sides.

Savchenko, who won a hero's status while in the Russian prison, has become a polarizing figure recently due to her criticism of the Ukrainian government and her calls for a dialogue with the Russia-backed rebels to end the fighting in eastern Ukraine. The violence has killed more than 9,800 people since April 2014.

Following her meeting in December with the rebel leaders in the Belarusian capital of Minsk, Savchenko's parliamentary faction dropped her from its ranks.

Ukraine's domestic security agency, the SBU, said Friday it will look into Savchenko's trip. Agency spokesman Oleksandr Tkachuk says Savchenko's trip is causing "bewilderment," according to the Interfax news agency.

A 2015 peace deal signed in Minsk has helped reduce fighting in eastern Ukraine, but a political settlement has stalled and clashes have continued.

Ertugrul Apakan, the chief of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's monitoring mission, criticized the rebels for seizing a drone Friday at gunpoint that monitors were attempting to launch in Yasynuvata, north of the main rebel stronghold of Donetsk. He said the rebels pointed their guns at the OSCE monitors, and one fired shots that landed near them

"Firing at unarmed civilian monitors is not only a direct threat to the lives of brave men and women doing their best to bring peace to Ukraine," Apakan said. "It is a direct challenge to the collective will of the 57 OSCE participating states, and to the Minsk agreements."

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Ukrainian lawmaker visits rebel east, urges prisoner release - Beloit Daily News

Rep. Mike Quigley, along with fellow Illinois Rep. Dan Lipinski, declined to attend President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.

During a trip to Ukraine this week alongside members of the intelligence community, Rep. Mike Quigley expressed concern over President Donald Trumps failure to react to Russian overreach and aggression.

It seems striking that President Trump, for some reasons still unknown, remains unwilling to stand up to Russian aggression, at home or abroad, he added.

Quigley, who serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, faulted Russias continued advancements into sovereign land in Georgia and Ukraine. The Chicago Democrat said President Barack Obamas policy toward Russia and Ukraine helped to maintain a fragile ceasefire which has eroded since Trump took office last month.

The fighting in Avidiivka, an industrial city near the Russian border, has intensified to levels not seen in years, testing the mettle of the new administration, Quigley wrote. So far, Trump is failing the test."

Quigley claimed Trump hasnt put forward a cohesive foreign policy on either Ukraine or Russia."

News out of Washington comes at a frenzied pace from the resignation of national security adviser Michael Flynn, to reports of contact between Trump campaign aides and Russian intelligence, all while evidence of Russian interference in the presidential election continues to mount.

In January, The U.S. Intelligence community confirmed that a covert Russian operation worked to undermine the presidential election and aid Trumps candidacy by hacking the Democratic National Committee and members of Hillary Clintons campaign. Obamas sanctions were handed down as a response.

Flynn allegedly misled Vice President Mike Pence about conversations he had with the ambassador regarding the sanctions. According to the White House, Trump was aware that Flynn misled Pence about the conversations with the Russian ambassador, but waited nearly three weeks before ousting the retired Army Lieutenant General. Last month, Trump told the Wall Street Journal that he would be open to lifting Russian sanctions, but plans to keep them for "at least a period of time."

Three people who were affiliated with Trumps presidential campaign Carter Page, Paul Manafort and Roger Stone are currently being investigated by the FBI and the intelligence community for their communications with the Russian government, according to the New York Times.

Whatever its knowledge of the election hacks, it makes absolutely no sense for the Trump administration to remove the only leverage we have, when Russia has only become more emboldened since Nov. 8, Quigley wrote.

For decades, Quigley said, Russia has been employing Soviet-style tactics to maintain power and influence in the region and beyond.

Disseminating fake news, spreading propaganda, infiltrating foreign governments with spies and sympathizers, blackmail, extortion and interfering in elections are all part of the same playbook, he wrote.

Quigley faulted Trump for echoing Russian President Vladimir Putins stance on NATOs role. In an interview published last month by Germanys Bild newspaper and the Times of London, Trump called NATO obsolete and said the European Union is basically a vehicle for Germany. In addition, he lauded the United Kingdoms withdrawal from the European Union.

My own feelings couldnt be more different, Quigly wrote.

Despite Trumps insistence, NATO has been the most effective deterrent preventing further Russian advances and has maintained the post-war world order for over 70 years, he added. Once, Georgia and Ukraine were hopeful that they might someday join the transatlantic alliance. Today, the notion sounds fanciful, but it doesnt mean the U.S. should abandon these countries to Moscows baleful influence."

Vice President Mike Pence told members of NATO and the EU Monday that Trump supports the international partnerships despite previous criticisms, according to NBC News. He also urged NATO members to increase defense spending, echoing a previous call made by Trump.

Maintaining multilateral sanctions in lockstep with the EU is crucial for Ukraines survival as a Western-friendly democracy, and for Americas credibility in the world, Quigley wrote. And if President Trump remains unwilling to maintain a tough line on Russia, Congress must accept the responsibility to stand up to Putin.

Quigley told Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko that sanctions must be preserved until Russia restores Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, including Crimea.

On Sunday, the New York Times reported that Trumps personal lawyer, Michael D. Cohen, delivered Flynn with a peace plan for Russia and Ukraine a week before his resignation. The plan would require Russian troops to withdraw from Eastern Ukraine and allow Ukrainian voters to decide whether Crimea would be leased to Russia for a period of 50 or 100 years.

Andrii V. Artemenko, a Ukrainian lawmaker who helped devise the plan, told the Times that he has evidence showing corruption by Poroshenko, noting that he received encouragement for the proposal from top Putin aides. Its unclear whether the Trump administration will seriously consider the proposal, which was also put together by Felix H. Slater, who helped the president scout business deals in Russia.

Nevertheless, Quigley backed the Ukrainian president in his op-ed.

President Poroshenko continues the hard work of democracy building stabilizing the economy, rooting out corruption, building a free press and reforming the judiciary, all while fighting the prolonged war in the East, Quigley wrote. In a meeting with him this week, it became abundantly clear that U.S. assistance in facilitating the implementation of these reforms remains vital."

Despite sometimes insurmountable obstacles, Durbin urged Ukrainians to stay the course on the long road to democracy.

And the U.S. and Europe must continue to walk with them."

Published at 5:56 PM CST on Feb 24, 2017

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Quigley Slams Trump's Response to Russia During Ukraine Trip - NBC Chicago (blog)

Russian writer Zakhar Prilepin gives a press conference to present his new book Platoon. Officers and rebels of Russian Literature in Moscow on February 21, 2017.
Natalia KOLESNIKOVA / AFP

One of Russias best known novelists, Zakhar Prilepin, has sparked a bitter row among top writers by revealing he is now fighting with pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine.

Prilepin is acclaimed for novels drawing on his experiences of serving with Russian forces in Chechnya and as a member of a banned radical nationalist group, and has won some of Russias top literary awards.

The shaven-headed writer has been a frequent visitor to the rebel east Ukraine since the start of the conflict in April 2014, acting as a consultant to Donetsk rebel leader Alexander Zakharchenko.

I think a writer has a right to any position, Prilepin said at a midweek Moscow news conference.

He can stand with a flag saying peace to the world or he can take up arms.

Deserves hatred For Prilepin, the conflict in Ukraine has seen a major change as he has gone from a member of a banned group fiercely opposed to the Kremlin to supporting the official line.

He was part of the outlawed National Bolshevik Party led by fellow writer Eduard Limonov, which used to see its illegal rallies crushed by riot police, but then supported Moscows seizure of Crimea in 2014.

By becoming one of the most high-profile Russians to join east Ukraines fighters, Prilepin has prompted outpourings of bile from top literary figures with more liberal views.

Viktor Pelevin, one of the best known post-Soviet writers, wrote on Facebook: When your books are shit, you have to earn money from terrorism.

Meanwhile Dmitry Bykov, a poet and writer known for an award-winning biography of Boris Pasternak, told Gazeta.ru that Prilepin deserves hatred.

In a comment reported by state television, Vera Polozkova, one of Russias best known young Russian poets, wrote on Facebook that she will open a bottle of the best champagne when they finally blow his head off.

The countrys blogosphere is buzzing. It has divided into factions: those who are for Prilepin and those who are against, wrote Life News website.

Prilepin said the reaction came as as a surprise but he welcomed the fact it had put writers back on the newspaper front pages.

I live in the context of Russian literature. Its much more important to me what Tolstoy and Dostoevsky would say and think about me than what the current European hypocrites will say, he responded.

Deadly risks Prilepin is taking time out from the military campaign to present a new book called Platoon: the officers and rebels of Russian literature which tells the story of famous writers who took up arms including national poet Alexander Pushkin.

Prilepin compared himself with the likes of Leo Tolstoy and Mikhail Lermontov, who fought as soldiers and drew on the experience in their writing.

He even went so far as to say he could see such figures joining him in the rebels self-declared Donetsk Peoples Republic.

While his involvement with the rebels has set off literary skirmishes back in Moscow, Prilepin admits that he faces far more real dangers on the ground in east Ukraine.

In recent months, several rebel battalion commanders have been assassinated in violent attacks inside the rebel-controlled region, killings Prilepin blamed on various sabotage groups.

The rebel leadership says Ukraine was behind the deaths, while Kiev insists they were down to either infighting or score settling by the insurgents puppet masters in Moscow.

I want to live, I like living, he said, while adding: Why hide it or beat about the bush, there definitely are risks.

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Russian writer sparks war of words by joining Ukraine rebels - Guardian

English Premier League club Leicester City on Thursday sacked manager Claudio Ranieri, just nine months after he led the team to win the Premier League.

The Italian's position has come under intense scrutiny this season during a slump that has left the Foxes flirting with relegation.

The 65-year-old Ranieri was sacked less than 24 hours after his team battled to a 2-1 defeat in the first leg of a Champions League last 16 knockout game against Spanish side Sevilla.

Leicester said on Thursday its board reluctantly feels that a change of leadership, while admittedly painful, is necessary in the clubs greatest interest.

The club, owned by Thailand travel groupKing Power, haswon just five of their 25 league games this season. The team has yet to score a league goal in 2017, having also been knocked out of the FA Cup by third-tier Millwall.

TRT World's Simon McGregor-Wood reports.

Who will replace Ranieri?

Leicester vice chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabhaof King Power said, we are duty-bound to put the clubs long-term interests above all sense of personal sentiment.

Srivaddhanaprabha said ditching Ranieri had been the hardest decision the current owners havemade but one they had to take when, with 13 games left to play, there was still a chance of Premier League survival.

"This has been the most difficult decision we have had to make in nearly seven years since King Power took ownership of Leicester City ... but we are now faced with a fight to reach that objective and feel a change is necessary to maximise the opportunity presented by the final 13 games."

Assistant manager Craig Shakespeare and first-team coach Mike Stowell will take caretaker charge ahead of Monday's match against Liverpool.

Guus Hiddink, who helped arrest Chelsea's decline last season when they suffered a slump immediately after winning the title, was installed as the 6:1 favourite by British bookmaker William Hill to replace Ranieri.

Hills made Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill, who enjoyed success as Leicester manager from 1995-2000, the 8:1 second-favourite.

Click here to read the club's full statement.

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Leicester gives Ranieri the boot - TRT World

Some Barack Obama devotees in France aren't happy with the homegrown contenders vying for the country's presidency, so they're hoping that the former U.S. president will step in and run for office this spring.

"Obama17" posters have been spotted plastered across Paris, urging citizens to visit a website and sign a petition to persuade Obama to enter the race. The goal is to get 1 million people to sign the petition.

Why Obama? "Because he has the best resume in the world for the job," reads the website, which is in no way connected to Obama.

While this all sounds good, there is one problem. The French president needs to be, well, French. And Obama is not.

The website also says Obama could be an antidote to the popularity of right-wing parties in the country.

"At a time when France is about to vote massively for the extreme right, we can still give a lesson of democracy to the planet by electing a French president, a foreigner," reads the website in French.

A spokesperson for the group told ABC News Thursday morning, "We started dreaming about this idea two months before the end of Obama's presidency. We dreamed about this possibility to vote for someone we really admire, someone who could lead us to project ourselves in a bright future. Then we thought, whether it's possible or not, whether or not he is French, we have to do this for real, to give French people hope ... Vive la Republique. Vive Obama. Vive la France and the USA."

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Obama devotees in France hoping for an 'OBAMA17' presidential ...