Major NATO and U.S. military ground exercises began in Ukraine's western city of Lvov on Monday as renewed clashes took place between government forces and pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country.
More than 1,200 soldiers from 15 countries – including Ukraine, the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Germany – will take part in the exercise, which has been dubbed 'Rapid Trident-2014'. The exercises are scheduled to end on September 26.
Ukraine also launched three-day naval drills in the Black Sea in the country's northwest which ended on Wednesday.
The Ukrainian government and separatist leaders signed a cease-fire on September 5 after negotiations in Belarus, with hopes of ending the five-month conflict.
However, minor clashes have taken place with shelling near Donetsk airport on Monday, prompting concerns that the fragile truce could break down.
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