RUSSIA-UKRAINE-US-UN-CRISIS

A Russian Communist Party activist (L), wearing a mask representing US President Barack Obama, demonstrates on September 9, 2014 near the UN embassy in Moscow to have the US leader stripped of his 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. Russia expressed hope on September 9 that talks between Kiev and rebel leaders on the status of eastern Ukraine would start shortly. "We are hoping that the talks will start quickly," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters, also expressing hope that a ceasefire agreed in Minsk last week would hold. "We are not interested in anyone or anything trying to scuttle the implementation of the Minsk agreements." . AFP PHOTO/KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV (Photo credit should read KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)