Ukraine: With some serious military setbacks at the hands of Russian troops and Russian-backed rebels, Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko said “I think that we are very close to the point of no return. Point of no return is full-scale war.”

Poroshenko spoke in Brussels yesterday after the European Union voted to prepare new economic sanctions against Russia. Despite proof that his army is involved, including the presence of Russian artillery and the capture of Russian soldiers, Russian President Vladimir Putin steadfastly denies that his country is involved in the Ukraine mess.

Putin has called for immediate peace talks and a political solution “safeguarding the legitimate interests of those people who live there.” He wants ethnic Russians to have a separate state in eastern Ukraine.

Iraq: Government forces under American air cover have reached the northern Iraqi town of Amerii where 15,000 Shiites have been besieged by ISIS extremists. The breakthrough came as the result of American air strikes on ISIS positions.

Separate Peace: The Syrian branch of al Qaeda has captured 44 UN peacekeepers from Fiji who were guarding the line between Syria and the Israel-occupied Golan heights. The Nusra front accuses the UN of not protecting Syrians. Earlier this weekend 72 Philippine peacekeepers in two separate camps managed to escape the Nusra attackers, leaving the Fiji troops to fend for themselves.

Out and Out: Michael Sam, the first openly gay college football player to be drafted into the National Football League, has been cut from the St. Louis Rams. The defensive end from Missouri was beaten out by Ethan Westbrooks, an un-drafted rookie who played for West Texas A&M. Sams could get picked up by another team or retained for the Rams practice squad. The Rams coach said, “I believe he can play in this league.”

Fished Out: The Los Angeles Times reports that the fish that gave Cape Cod its name is disappearing. From a peak of 40 million pounds caught 20 years ago, the take was down to 2 million pounds last year. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the number of cod old enough to reproduce is just 3-4 percent of normal and that “presents a grim picture for the potential recovery of the iconic fish stock.”

Boxed Out: The summer box office was down about 15 percent from last year. The reasons: Tom Cruise, Melissa McCarthy, Seth Rogen, “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,”, “How to Train Your Dragon 2” and “The Expendables 3.”

Vows: President Obama and the First Family attended the wedding yesterday of White House Chef Sam Kass and MSNBC host Alex Wagner in Pocantico Hills, NY. Obama and Kass have bonded over food and golf, becoming good buddies.

Orange is the New Black: Former Playboy model Brandi Brandt has been sentenced to six years in prison in Australia for drug trafficking. Brandt, 45, was part of a ring that shipped cocaine from California to Sydney aboard passenger jets. She’s the ex-wife of Nikki Sixx of the band Mötley Crüe. The name “Brandi” says it all.

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