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US: No sign Russia helping to ease Ukraine fight

By WTOP Staff

LARA JAKES
AP National Security Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States on Tuesday said Russia has “not shown a shred of evidence” that it is willing to help end the violence between the Ukraine separatists backed by Moscow and the government that is trying to maintain its sovereignty.

Secretary of State John Kerry issued a new warning that the U.S. and European Union are prepared to slap additional sanctions on Russia if it continues to ship weapons, funds and fighters across its border to support the separatists in eastern Ukraine.

He said the fighting between the separatists and Ukraine’s military has prevented investigators from obtaining necessary evidence — and even remaining body parts — from the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, which was shot down nearly two weeks ago.

“While the Russians have said that they want to de-escalate the conflict, their actions have not shown a shred of evidence that they really have a legitimate desire to end the violence and end the bloodshed,” Kerry said following a State Department meeting with Ukraine Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin.

Kerry cited “clear evidence” of Russian military support to the separatists, including rocket and artillery fire from Russia into Ukraine.

He also said he spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday morning about what he described as specific proposals to ease the violence.

But Kerry said the separatists will continue to fight “unless they feel some pressure, something real, from their Russian backers” to stop.

For months, the separatists in eastern Ukraine have waged a bloody battle against Kiev to secede from the country and align themselves with Moscow.

In Moscow, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said that Lavrov had urged Kerry to persuade the Ukrainian government to declare a cease-fire.

But Kerry said it was the separatists who have refused to lay down their arms and try to find a political solution to the war.

“They have displayed an appalling disregard for human decency,” Kerry said, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin “can make a huge difference here — if he chooses to.”

Klimkin said Kiev remains willing to negotiate a peace plan with the separatists that would include a bilateral cease-fire and a political settlement “with the aim of restoring the territorial integrity of Ukraine.”

He thanked the U.S. for its efforts to broker peace. “I feel a real commitment here, a real solidarity here,” Klimkin said.

Additionally, Kerry and Lavrov discussed the fulfillment of a Cold War-era arms control deal that the U.S. has accused Russia of violating.

Earlier this week, Washington said Moscow violated the 1987 Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty by testing a new ground-launched cruise missile.

The Russian Foreign Ministry didn’t comment on the accusations in releasing details about the Tuesday discussion between Kerry and Lavrov.

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Follow Lara Jakes on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/larajakesAP

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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