Russia refused to extend the mandate of international observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to monitor two border crossing points on Ukraine’s border with Russia inside the separatist Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, RFE/RL reported Sept. 2. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the deployment of the OSCE group merely a “goodwill gesture” and “confidence-building” measure, and said Russia would withdraw its support because “Ukrainian authorities and their Western patrons did not demonstrate the necessary level of respect for this step taken by Russia.” This OSCE mission, one of many conducted by the organization in relation to the conflict, began in 2014 and had been renewed every four months since, but will now expire on Sept. 30.