Deputy National Security Council Secretary Viktoria Siumar told journalists at a briefing that Adm. Denis Berezovsky had been fired and replaced by another officer. She said he had offered no resistance when his headquarters was surrounded and then transferred his allegiance to the regional parliament in Crimea. The parliament has elected a pro-Russian leader who says he does not recognize the newly elected central government.
Siumar said his headquarters was surrounded by pro-Russian forces.
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10:44 AM – Today
Kerry/Lavrov Presser Delayed
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Russian Foreign Minister
Sergei Lavrov said at a press conference Friday that Russia does not
have plans to invade Southern or Eastern Ukraine.
"The Russian Federation does not have any plans to invade Southern or Eastern Ukraine," Lavrov said in London after speaking with Secretary Kerry, according to a live translation of his remarks on Russia Today. Lavrov added that Russia will "respect" the result of the Crimean referendum, adding that the Crimeans have the right to "self-determination."
A Russian ministry statement on Friday which said that Moscow believed it has the right to protect its people in Ukraine seemed to indicate a casus belli. "Russia is aware of its responsibility for the lives of compatriots and fellow citizens in Ukraine and reserves the right to take people under its protection," read the statement, which was issued after a pro-Ukrainian protester was killed in the Eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk in a clash between pro-Ukrainians and pro-Russians.
--Luke Johnson
"The Russian Federation does not have any plans to invade Southern or Eastern Ukraine," Lavrov said in London after speaking with Secretary Kerry, according to a live translation of his remarks on Russia Today. Lavrov added that Russia will "respect" the result of the Crimean referendum, adding that the Crimeans have the right to "self-determination."
A Russian ministry statement on Friday which said that Moscow believed it has the right to protect its people in Ukraine seemed to indicate a casus belli. "Russia is aware of its responsibility for the lives of compatriots and fellow citizens in Ukraine and reserves the right to take people under its protection," read the statement, which was issued after a pro-Ukrainian protester was killed in the Eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk in a clash between pro-Ukrainians and pro-Russians.
--Luke Johnson
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11:47 AM – Today
Lavrov: We'll Respect Results Of ReferendumLavrov on referendum: we'll respect choice of #Crimea peoples. When we know results, we'll express our position.
— Alexander Marquardt (@MarquardtA) March 14, 2014
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11:44 AM – Today
Lavrov: Russia, U.S. Do Not Have Common VisionBREAKING: Lavrov: Russia, US do not have 'common vision' on Ukraine, despite 'useful' talks in London.
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 14, 2014
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11:43 AM – Today
WATCH: Lavrov Addresses The Press
A press conference of
Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
is currently delayed. There is no word on when it will start.
--Luke Johnson
--Luke Johnson
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10:29 AM – Today
Crimea Invasion Distracting From Other Terrible Putin Policies
In The New Republic, Julia Ioffe writes
that "while the world awaits Sunday’s referendum in Crimea and
nervously watches the Russian troops massing on Ukraine’s eastern
border, the world is missing that, in Moscow, Vladimir Putin is busily
cleaning house."
The Kremlin has not only cracked down severely on independent media, dismantling TV stations and restricting access to oppositional news sites, she writes. It's taking even more extreme -- and absurd -- anti-Western measures.
Read the whole post here.
The Kremlin has not only cracked down severely on independent media, dismantling TV stations and restricting access to oppositional news sites, she writes. It's taking even more extreme -- and absurd -- anti-Western measures.
Read the whole post here.
9:54 AM – Today
Kerry, Lavrov Take A Long Walk
Secretary
Of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are
taking a long walk in London to try to resolve the Ukrainian crisis at
the last minute.
Here is the State Department's tweet:
Department of State ✔ @StateDept Follow
Here is the Foreign Ministry's (an attempt at humor?):
--Luke Johnson
Here is the State Department's tweet:
Department of State ✔ @StateDept Follow
After more than three hours, @JohnKerry and #Russia's FM Lavrov continue talks on de-escalating tensions in Ukraine.
Here is the Foreign Ministry's (an attempt at humor?):
--Luke Johnson
Share +
Russian prosecutors have begun proceedings against a number of Ukrainian nationalists, reports ITAR-TASS.
Right Sector leader Dmytro Yarosh and member of parliament and Svoboda
leader Oleh Tyahnybok were the two names named by the Russian
Investigative Committee.
Neither leader is Russian or wants to set foot on Russian soil, which makes the chances of them actually coming into custody slim. But the move seems to be part of a broader push to make such figures criminals. Lenta.ru, an independent news site, saw its top editor fired after it published an interview with Yarosh and was warned by Russian authorities for potentially violating a law against "extremism."
--Luke Johnson
Neither leader is Russian or wants to set foot on Russian soil, which makes the chances of them actually coming into custody slim. But the move seems to be part of a broader push to make such figures criminals. Lenta.ru, an independent news site, saw its top editor fired after it published an interview with Yarosh and was warned by Russian authorities for potentially violating a law against "extremism."
--Luke Johnson
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9:35 AM – Today
COMING UP: Kerry - Lavrov Press Conference
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9:23 AM – Today
Britain's Hague: Talks Will Be 'Formidably Difficult'
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9:21 AM – Today
Visa Ban List Includes Top Officials
More details emerged on
Friday about the visa bans that the European Union and the United States
threaten to impose if Crimea decides to join Russia in an upcoming
referendum. Reuters reports
that top officials close to President Putin will be affected by the
bans. The list reportedly includes Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu,
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, head of the presidential
administration Sergei Ivanov, the secretary of the National Security
Council Nikolai Patrushev, as well as several of Putin's advisors.
-- Eline Gordts
-- Eline Gordts
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9:12 AM – Today
PHOTO: Ukrainian Soldiers Go Through Drills
Ukrainian soldiers line up ahead of a morning drill inside the Belbek military airbase on March 14, 2014 in Belbek, Ukraine. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
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9:11 AM – Today
Estonia: Russia Is Preparing To Invade East Ukraine
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NewsBreaker
@NewsBreaker
Follow
BREAKING: Russia Is preparing to invade East Ukraine, Estonia says: http://bloom.bg/1lDkgRD - @BloombergNews
8:51 AM – Today
Last-Minute Talks In London
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are meeting in London for last-minute talks over
the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. The embattled Crimean peninsula is set
to vote on its independence Sunday. Western nations intend to impose
sanctions on Russia for fueling tensions and undermining the new
government in Kiev if the vote goes through.
"We want to see Ukrainians and the Russians talking to each other," said British Prime Minister David Cameron. "And if they don't then there are going to have to be consequences."
Read the full report here.
-- Ryan Craggs
"We want to see Ukrainians and the Russians talking to each other," said British Prime Minister David Cameron. "And if they don't then there are going to have to be consequences."
Read the full report here.
-- Ryan Craggs
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8:18 AM – Today
A Picture Says A Thousand Words?
AFP
has this photo of Secretary of State John Kerry and Foreign Minister
Sergey Lavrov in London, who are meeting for talks on Ukraine. Neither
of them looks too pleased.
--Luke Johnson
--Luke Johnson
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8:08 AM – Today
Putin's Circle Is A Mystery
Russian journalist Leonid Ragozin writes in The New Republic about how little there is known about Putin's inner circle that has approximately half the world's nuclear weapons:
--Luke Johnson
Trouble is, we—Russian and Western journalists working in Moscow—know nothing about these people. Yes, we knew about some members of Putin’s inner circle, but they have undergone an evolution behind Kremlin walls that we have been unable to follow. The extent of this moral and psychological transformation is a mystery.Read the full piece here.
--Luke Johnson
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7:54 AM – Today
Russia Says It Reserves The Right To Protect People In Ukraine
Russia's Foreign Ministry released a statement Friday
in response to the death of a protestor in Donetsk, Ukraine in a bloody
clash between pro-Ukrainian protesters and pro-Russian protesters. The
protestor was reported to be part of a pro-Ukrainian group, but the
Foreign Ministry turned around the event and said it had the right to
protect its "compatriots."
"Russia is aware of its responsibility for the lives of compatriots and fellow citizens in Ukraine and reserves the right to take people under its protection," read the statement.
The language seems to be a pretext for greater Russian involvement in Ukraine, especially in the largely pro-Russian East, where the clash took place. If the country has the "responsibility" for its "compatriots," then it -- according to Russian logic -- has the right to intervene further militarily.
The Foreign Ministry also said that the central government was not in control. "We have repeatedly stated that came to power in Kiev must disarm militants and ensure public safety and the legitimate right of people to hold rallies. Unfortunately, as the events in Ukraine show, this is not happening, the Kiev authorities are not in control of the situation in the country," said the Foreign Ministry.
Reuters reported that pro-Russian forces escalated the clashes. "Journalists saw pro-Russian demonstrators throw eggs, smoke bombs and other missiles and break through a police cordon to beat their opponents with batons Organizers of the pro-Russia protest said their supporters were also attacked," Reuters wrote.
--Luke Johnson
"Russia is aware of its responsibility for the lives of compatriots and fellow citizens in Ukraine and reserves the right to take people under its protection," read the statement.
The language seems to be a pretext for greater Russian involvement in Ukraine, especially in the largely pro-Russian East, where the clash took place. If the country has the "responsibility" for its "compatriots," then it -- according to Russian logic -- has the right to intervene further militarily.
The Foreign Ministry also said that the central government was not in control. "We have repeatedly stated that came to power in Kiev must disarm militants and ensure public safety and the legitimate right of people to hold rallies. Unfortunately, as the events in Ukraine show, this is not happening, the Kiev authorities are not in control of the situation in the country," said the Foreign Ministry.
Reuters reported that pro-Russian forces escalated the clashes. "Journalists saw pro-Russian demonstrators throw eggs, smoke bombs and other missiles and break through a police cordon to beat their opponents with batons Organizers of the pro-Russia protest said their supporters were also attacked," Reuters wrote.
--Luke Johnson
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7:36 AM – Today
Rough Days Ahead For Some Oligarchs?
Share +
Breaking News ✔
@BreakingNews
Follow
EU has drawn up list of 120-130 senior
Russian officials who could be subjected to travel bans and asset
freezes, officials tell @Reuters
12:52 AM – Today
Putin And Iran Leader Discuss Situation
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani have discussed the situation in Ukraine, Reuters reports:
A Kremlin statement said Putin had underlined to Rouhani that any solution to the Ukrainian crisis must take into account the interests and the will of people in all of the former Soviet state's regions.Read the full story here.
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10:01 PM – 03/13/2014
Kerry And Russian Foreign Minister 'Joined At The Hip'
CNN reports that over the past week, "Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov have practically been joined at the hip":
The two met four times last week in Europe and have been in daily phone contact since. But they have failed to reach common ground on how to solve the crisis in Ukraine over Crimea.Read the full report here.
Kerry left Thursday for yet another round of talks with Lavrov -- this time, an 11th-hour push in London aimed and averting an escalation of the situation over a referendum for the strategic peninsula to rejoin Russia.
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6:03 PM – 03/13/2014
VIDEO: Pro-Russian Group Allegedly Attacking Pro-Ukrainian Group
Kyiv Post's Christopher Miller tweeted this video that allegedly shows a pro-Russian group attacking pro-Ukrainian groups in Donetsk today:
http://youtu.be/iNqcwSwnybU
-- Ryan Craggs
-- Ryan Craggs
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5:40 PM – 03/13/2014
PHOTO: Wounded Man In Donetsk
Man with head wounds in hospital waiting room in Donetsk, east Ukraine.
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5:28 PM – 03/13/2014
One Dead In Eastern Ukraine Protest Clashes
Blood was from head wound, pro-Maidan protestor was unconscious. He lay there for several minutes, no ambulance came.
Reuters reports that one person has died in clashes between pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian protesters in the Eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk.
The man, 22, was stabbed to death, while 15 others were treated in the hospital. Organizers of the Pro-European Union rally said the dead man was with them.
New York Times reporter Andrew Roth has been tweeting from the scene.
The man, 22, was stabbed to death, while 15 others were treated in the hospital. Organizers of the Pro-European Union rally said the dead man was with them.
New York Times reporter Andrew Roth has been tweeting from the scene.
Donetsk. Pro-Russian crowd attacks Maidan meeting, this is what happened to 20 or so who stayed to fight. No arrests.
--Luke Johnson
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5:22 PM – 03/13/2014
Sanctions Could Cost Russia Billion Per Quarter
With the threat of sanctions
by the European Union and the United States looming against Russia,
capital flight from Russia could cost the nation up to billion dollars per quarter, according to one Russian analyst.
Alexei Kudrin, a member of the Presidium of the Russian president’s Economic Council, was quoted by the state-funded ITAR-TASS news agency as saying that sanctions against Russia could come in waves, with a second-wave freeze causing greater harm than an initial setback. Kudrin compared the potential sanctions to those enacted in 1998 after the conflict in Georgia, but differentiated the potentially more damaging effects of the present conflict.
-- Ryan Craggs
Alexei Kudrin, a member of the Presidium of the Russian president’s Economic Council, was quoted by the state-funded ITAR-TASS news agency as saying that sanctions against Russia could come in waves, with a second-wave freeze causing greater harm than an initial setback. Kudrin compared the potential sanctions to those enacted in 1998 after the conflict in Georgia, but differentiated the potentially more damaging effects of the present conflict.
“A key difference between the first and the second waves is the restrictions on currency operations carried out by our institutions in the international markets...In this case, capital flight after the second wave [of sanctions] may reach 50 billion in the first and second quarters."Read the entire ITAR-TASS report here.
-- Ryan Craggs
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4:30 PM – 03/13/2014
Ukraine Rebuffed On Request For Military Assistance From U.S.: Report
Ukraine's interim government asked the United States for military assistance and the Pentagon declined, reports the Wall Street Journal.
"It's not a forever 'no,' it's a 'no for now,'" a senior U.S. official told the Journal. The request included arms and ammunition, communications gear, intelligence support, aviation fuel and night-vision goggles, among other things.
Russia has amassed its own military forces near the border of Eastern Ukraine. Russia's military is much larger than Ukraine's.
Speaking Wednesday in the U.S. Capitol, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk was asked about the state of his own military. "We urgently need to modernize and overhaul the Ukrainian military," he said.
--Luke Johnson
"It's not a forever 'no,' it's a 'no for now,'" a senior U.S. official told the Journal. The request included arms and ammunition, communications gear, intelligence support, aviation fuel and night-vision goggles, among other things.
Russia has amassed its own military forces near the border of Eastern Ukraine. Russia's military is much larger than Ukraine's.
Speaking Wednesday in the U.S. Capitol, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk was asked about the state of his own military. "We urgently need to modernize and overhaul the Ukrainian military," he said.
--Luke Johnson
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4:19 PM – 03/13/2014
U.S. Delays Vote On Aid For Ukraine
Reuters reports U.S.
Congress will likely wait until later this month to vote on an aid
package to Ukraine as it debates whether or not to include reforms by
the International Monetary Fund in its package.
From Reuters:
-- Ryan Craggs
U.S. President Barack Obama and Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk speak during meetings in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, March 12, 2014. (SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
Armed pro-Russian servicemen stand guard at Chongar checkpoint blocking the entrance to Crimea on March 10, 2014. (ALISA BOROVIKOVA/AFP/Getty Images)
A man holds his hands on his head as he is searched by pro-Russian servicemen at Chongar checkpoint blocking the entrance to Crimea on March 10, 2014. (ALISA BOROVIKOVA/AFP/Getty Images)
Men hold their hands up on their heads as they are searched by pro-Russian servicemen at Chongar checkpoint blocking the entrance to Crimea on March 10, 2014. (ALISA BOROVIKOVA/AFP/Getty Images)
From Reuters:
Legislation including the IMF reforms, loan guarantees for Ukraine, sanctions against Russians and Ukrainians and economic aid for the new Kiev government was passed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday.But the measure will not be considered by the full Senate until after Congress returns to Washington from a week-long recess, which begins on Friday, aides said. The measure would also have to pass the Republican-led House of Representatives, where it faces a difficult fight, before President Barack Obama could sign it into law.Read the full report here.
-- Ryan Craggs
4:13 PM – 03/13/2014
French Ambassador Calls Russia A 'Rookie Player' Who Loses Game
The French Ambassador to the United Nations Gerard Araud spoke on Russia's involvement in Ukraine.
French Ambo Araud : "I don't play chess well but I see #Russia as a rookie player who can't resist taking the tower and looses the game"
— Karim Lebhour (@KaLebhour) March 13, 2014
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3:56 PM – 03/13/2014
NBC's Richard Engel Detained, Released In CrimeaDetained by pro russian militia in crimea. Questioned for an hour or so. Not allowed to move or phone. Then released. #ukraine
— Richard Engel (@RichardEngel) 4 years ago
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3:50 PM – 03/13/2014
Photo Of Clashes In DonetskIn Donetsk, pro-Russian thugs attacked pro-Ukrainian demonstrators. 1 killed, 10 hospitalized. Pic via @euromaidan http://t.co/RW6PyftLOJ
— Myroslava Petsa (@myroslavapetsa) 2 years ago
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3:49 PM – 03/13/2014
One Killed In Donetsk ClashesOne killed in clashes between rival Ukrainian demonstrators in Donetsk: local health department
— Reuters World (@ReutersWorld) 2 years ago
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3:45 PM – 03/13/2014
Power: 'Now Is The Time To Show Laws Matter'
U.S. Ambassador to the
United Nations Samantha Power, in her closing statements to the U.N.
Security Council, addressed Russia directly, saying, "Now is the time to
show laws matter, rules matter, territorial integrity matters."
Watch the live BBC feed of the Security Council meeting here.
--Ryan Craggs
Watch the live BBC feed of the Security Council meeting here.
--Ryan Craggs
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3:40 PM – 03/13/2014
U.S. Ambassador To UN Samantha Power Addresses Security Council
U.S. Ambassador to the
United Nations Samantha Power is currently addressing the U.N. Security
Council concerning the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. Among her remarks,
Power described Russia's actions as "not the behavior of people who believe they have truth and law on their side."
Watch the BBC feed here.
--Ryan Craggs
Watch the BBC feed here.
--Ryan Craggs
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2:59 PM – 03/13/2014
Russian Authorities Move To Block Access To Three Independent Websites And Navalny LiveJournal
Roskomnadzor, Russia's Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media, announced Thursday
that it would blocking access to three websites and the blog of Alexei
Navalny. The crackdown appears to be part of a crackdown on Internet
freedom that has accelerated since Russian forces entered Crimea.
The list includes two independent but liberally-minded news sites: grani.ru and ej.ru. The list also includes the website of opposition leader Garry Kasparov, kasparov.ru. The editor of the independent news website lenta.ru was fired on Wednesday and replaced with a more Kremlin-friendly editor.
Most prominently on the list is the LiveJournal of anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny. Navalny defied a court order for house arrest, banning him from Internet and telephone, to use his blog to protest the Russian invasion of Crimea.
"Altering the borders of states in Europe by military force is unacceptable," Navalny said. "This will not lead to anything good," he said in a handwritten letter posted on his LiveJournal by members of his Anti-Corruption Fund.
Navalny spoke to The Huffington Post in January and said he would continue his fight against corruption. "Nevertheless, my supporters and I, we will continue our fight against corruption because we don’t have another country," he added, "and we believe in what we are doing and we will continue because we think we are right."
--Luke Johnson
The list includes two independent but liberally-minded news sites: grani.ru and ej.ru. The list also includes the website of opposition leader Garry Kasparov, kasparov.ru. The editor of the independent news website lenta.ru was fired on Wednesday and replaced with a more Kremlin-friendly editor.
Most prominently on the list is the LiveJournal of anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny. Navalny defied a court order for house arrest, banning him from Internet and telephone, to use his blog to protest the Russian invasion of Crimea.
"Altering the borders of states in Europe by military force is unacceptable," Navalny said. "This will not lead to anything good," he said in a handwritten letter posted on his LiveJournal by members of his Anti-Corruption Fund.
Navalny spoke to The Huffington Post in January and said he would continue his fight against corruption. "Nevertheless, my supporters and I, we will continue our fight against corruption because we don’t have another country," he added, "and we believe in what we are doing and we will continue because we think we are right."
--Luke Johnson
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1:56 PM – 03/13/2014
Germany Warns Putin
German Foreign Minister
Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned Russia on Friday that the referendum in
Crimea is followed by steps to absorb the region into Russia, Europe
will have to consider new sanctions,
Reuters reports:
Reuters reports:
Speaking to reporters after meeting counterparts from central Europe, Steinmeier said Russia had so far rebuffed all European proposals to defuse the standoff in Crimea. He said European states over the weekend would draw up a list of Russians who will be subject to visa restrictions and asset freezes as part of initial sanctions already agreed within the European Union.-- Eline Gordts
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1:36 PM – 03/13/2014
Ukraine: Russia Fired On Plane Over Crimea
From Reuters:
Ukraine said on Thursday that Russian forces had fired at a Ukrainian reconnaissance plane.
Ukraine said on Thursday that Russian forces had fired at a Ukrainian reconnaissance plane.
In a statement noting this was the second such incident in five days, the Ukrainian border guard service said its aircraft was on patrol in early afternoon when "from a Russian guard post near Armyansk, there was flagrant shooting from an APC".It gave no further details and made no mention of damage to the plane, which it said was unarmed.-- Alana Horowitz
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1:31 PM – 03/13/2014
White House Warns RussiaCarney says Russia should have no doubt the US has the tools & authority to heighten the cost to Russia for its transgressions in Ukraine.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) March 13, 2014
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1:18 PM – 03/13/2014
Putin Chairs Security Session On Ukraine
From The Associated Press:
Russian President Vladimir Putin has chaired a meeting of his Security Council focusing on the crisis in Ukraine.Putin said at the start of Thursday's meeting that he wants to discuss ties with Russia's "friends and partners in Ukraine," as well as Russia's relations with the United States and the European Union in connection with the developments in Ukraine.-- Eline Gordts
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1:02 PM – 03/13/2014
Crimean Parliament Says It Will Declare Ukrainian Prime Minister Persona Non Grata
The Crimean Parliament posted a statement on its website
Thursday saying it will declare Ukraine's interim Prime Minister,
Arseniy Yatsenyuk, persona non grata, as well as Ukrainian nationalist
politician Oleh Tyahnybok and boxer-turned-politician Vitali Klitschko.
"Klitschko, Tyahnybok, Yatsenyuk, and all followers of Banderist ideology will be declared persona non grata in Crimea," read the statement.
"Participants in the anti-constitutional coup have no moral right to assess the legality of the all-Crimean referendum. Neo-Nazis and their accomplices have no moral right to impose their will on the autonomous people -- children and grandchildren of the victors of fascism."
The move comes after Yatsenyuk called a scheduled referendum on Crimea's ties to Russia "unconstitutional" and "illegitimate." The government in Kiev has made it clear that it will not recognize the results of it.
--Luke Johnson
"Klitschko, Tyahnybok, Yatsenyuk, and all followers of Banderist ideology will be declared persona non grata in Crimea," read the statement.
"Participants in the anti-constitutional coup have no moral right to assess the legality of the all-Crimean referendum. Neo-Nazis and their accomplices have no moral right to impose their will on the autonomous people -- children and grandchildren of the victors of fascism."
The move comes after Yatsenyuk called a scheduled referendum on Crimea's ties to Russia "unconstitutional" and "illegitimate." The government in Kiev has made it clear that it will not recognize the results of it.
--Luke Johnson
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1:00 PM – 03/13/2014
U.S. Jets Arrive In Poland
American F-16 fighter jets arrived in Poland on Thursday to take part in military drills amid the crisis in Ukraine, Reuters reports.
At least 12 F-16 planes and 300 personnel were due to take part in the drills, beefed up at Warsaw's request after Russian forces seized control of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula. Both the Polish Defence Ministry and the press officer at Lask declined to comment on the reports of the arrivals. Earlier this week, the United States and Poland began wargames in Lask, with the U.S. saying both the air drills and joint naval exercises in the Black Sea were planned before the crisis in Ukraine.-- Eline Gordts
12:20 PM – 03/13/2014
Sergei Akysonov Spokeswoman Denies Nationalizing Banks
Crimea's prime minister has denied a rеport that the Council of Ministers signed a decree to nationalize banks and impose ATM withdrawals, The Telegraph reports.
--Luke Johnson
Aksyonov's
spokeswoman denies "nationalizing" the banks or imposing a 300 UAH
(£20) withdrawal limit. Tell that to the queues at the ATMs.
— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) March 13, 2014
Even
if the spokeswoman is correct, it will likely do little to change the
long queues at ATMs for withdrawals -- once word spreads of a bank run,
it is a hard bell to un-ring.--Luke Johnson
Share +
11:53 AM – 03/13/2014
Crimean Parliament Says It Will Nationalize State-Owned Industries On Day After Referendum
The Crimean Parliament has named the day of March 17 to nationalize state-owned Ukrainian industries, Interfax reported Thursday.
The decision is yet another sign that authorities are expecting the referendum to join Russia to pass.
Crimean Prime Minister Sergei Aksyonov said that the nationalization would include utilities and other state-owned enterprises.
--Luke Johnson
The decision is yet another sign that authorities are expecting the referendum to join Russia to pass.
Crimean Prime Minister Sergei Aksyonov said that the nationalization would include utilities and other state-owned enterprises.
--Luke Johnson
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11:27 AM – 03/13/2014
Russia Reportedly Amassing Armed Forces Near Eastern Ukraine, Russia Today Denies
The New York Times reports that Russia is amassing troops near its border with eastern Ukraine:
"In Moscow, the military acknowledged significant operations involving armored and airborne troops in the Belgorod, Kursk and Rostov regions abutting eastern Ukraine, where many ethnic Russians have protested against the new interim government in Ukraine’s capital, Kiev, and appealed to Moscow for protection," the newspaper writes.
The Times' report confirms earlier local news reports of military equipment on the highway to Kiev, traveling alongside the normal movement of traffic.
Meanwhile, state-owned media outlet Russia Today denies the story in an article titled, "Russia allows Ukrainian surveillance flight to confirm no troops near border."
"In Moscow, the military acknowledged significant operations involving armored and airborne troops in the Belgorod, Kursk and Rostov regions abutting eastern Ukraine, where many ethnic Russians have protested against the new interim government in Ukraine’s capital, Kiev, and appealed to Moscow for protection," the newspaper writes.
The Times' report confirms earlier local news reports of military equipment on the highway to Kiev, traveling alongside the normal movement of traffic.
Meanwhile, state-owned media outlet Russia Today denies the story in an article titled, "Russia allows Ukrainian surveillance flight to confirm no troops near border."
[Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov] Antonov vehemently denied a statement Tuesday by Igor Tenyukh, defense minister for the Kiev coup-appointed government, that Russia had amassed more than 220,000 troops, 1,800 tanks and over 400 helicopters in regions adjacent to eastern Ukraine.“Ukrainian military officials know full well that the entire [Russian] Southern and Western Military Districts put together don’t have that much equipment. The only way you could arrive at that number of soldiers would be if you counted their families,” Antonov said.--Luke Johnson
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11:19 AM – 03/13/2014
Kerry: 'Serious Series Of Steps'
US
Sec. of State Kerry: If Crimea referendum goes ahead, will be 'serious
series of steps' Monday from US, Europe against Russia - @Reuters
— Breaking News (@BreakingNews) March 13, 2014
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11:16 AM – 03/13/2014
Pro-Russia Militia Has 'Taken' a French Journalist
According to Al Jazeera
America journalist Jared Keller, Nick Schifrin reported from Crimea that
a pro-Russian militia has seized a French journalist. The militia
members "fired a few shots from a pistol" while breaking through the
gate of a military supply depot where a TV crew was located, after which
"the French Journalist was captured."
Read more here.
Read more here.
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10:38 AM – 03/13/2014
Lavrov And Kerry Discuss Ukraine.. AgainLavrov, Kerry discussed proposals to resolve Ukraine crisis in phone call: Russian Foreign Ministry
— Reuters World (@ReutersWorld) March 13, 2014
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10:37 AM – 03/13/2014
Russians Block Ukrainian ShipThe Konstiantyn Olshansky: Ukrainian amphibious assault ship blocked from leaving port in Crimea by Russians. #cbc pic.twitter.com/2HnzgRDktE
— Derek Stoffel (@DerekStoffelCBC) March 13, 2014
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9:33 AM – 03/13/2014
Bank Nationalization Plan Causes Huge Lines At ATMs In Crimea
On Wednesday, the Council of Ministers of Crimea reportedly signed
a declaration entitled, "On the regulation of the banking system in the
Autonomous Republic of Crimea in the case of political instability."
The declaration limits bank withdrawals to 300 Grivna (just over $30) as of noon Thursday. It also calls for a plan of nationalizing Ukrainian bank branches in Crimea.
ATM lines in Crimea grew long Thursday:
The declaration limits bank withdrawals to 300 Grivna (just over $30) as of noon Thursday. It also calls for a plan of nationalizing Ukrainian bank branches in Crimea.
ATM lines in Crimea grew long Thursday:
Long line at Simferopol ATM. #Crimea pic.twitter.com/qj705ezTK7
— Alexander Marquardt (@MarquardtA) March 12, 2014
RT @lindseyhilsum Queue at ATM in #Simferopol - 'after referendum we don't know if we'll be able to get our money'. pic.twitter.com/B9gBVlJYcB
— greg white (@whitegl) March 13, 2014
Queues growing outside Ukrainian bank branches in Simferopol - people are worried, some withdrawing all savings pic.twitter.com/MWcpF2gxPd
— Tom Rayner (@RaynerSkyNews) March 12, 2014
-- Luke Johnson
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9:26 AM – 03/13/2014
Putin: 'Russia Was Not The Initiator'
At a meeting with paralympic
delegations in Sochi, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow was
not to blame for the crisis in Ukraine.
"I would like to express gratitude to you for keeping the Paralympics out of politics. And the uneasy circumstances which you well know about did not affect it. And I would like to stress that Russia was not the initiator of the circumstances that have taken shape," Putin said, according to Reuters.
-- Eline Gordts
"I would like to express gratitude to you for keeping the Paralympics out of politics. And the uneasy circumstances which you well know about did not affect it. And I would like to stress that Russia was not the initiator of the circumstances that have taken shape," Putin said, according to Reuters.
-- Eline Gordts
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9:19 AM – 03/13/2014
OECD Halts Talks With Russia
The Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development is halting accession talks with
Russia, the Associated Press reports on Thursday.
From the AP:
From the AP:
A grouping of the world's most developed countries says it's provisionally halting accession talks with Russia in a move many will see as a direct response to the country's takeover of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula.-- Eline Gordts
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which promotes good governance and economic policy initiatives among its 34 mainly rich world members, says it has "postponed activities related to the accession process" with Russia "for the time being." No explanation for the decision was provided in the statement Thursday.
Russia has been in talks to join the since May 2007. As of last June Russia had concluded five of 22 reviews required for accession.
The OECD also said it would "respond positively to Ukraine's request" for closer ties with the Paris-based OECD.
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8:56 AM – 03/13/2014
Russians Start Military Exercises Near Ukraine
In what appears to be a show of force, Russia announced it had begun military exercises in its Southern Military District near the Ukrainian border, Reuters reports.
The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the exercises included 8,500
artillery forces, as well as the use of Howitzers, Nona self-propelled
artillery and Rapier anti-tank guns.
Read the full Reuters report here.
-- Ryan Craggs
The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the exercises included 8,500
artillery forces, as well as the use of Howitzers, Nona self-propelled
artillery and Rapier anti-tank guns.
Read the full Reuters report here.
-- Ryan Craggs
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8:50 AM – 03/13/2014
Dmytro Firtash Arrested In Austria: Reports
Reuters and the Austria Press Agency report that Ukrainian oligarch Dmytro Firtash was arrested in Vienna on Wednesday night.
Firtash, a gas magnate, was a supporter of ousted President Viktor Yanukovych. He owns a television channel in Ukraine, and had distanced himself from the president as the protests went on.
--Luke Johnson
Firtash, a gas magnate, was a supporter of ousted President Viktor Yanukovych. He owns a television channel in Ukraine, and had distanced himself from the president as the protests went on.
--Luke Johnson
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8:31 AM – 03/13/2014
Putin's Approval Rating Reaches 3-Year High: State-Owned Pollster
VTsIOM, the state-owned pollster of Russia, released a survey Thursday
showing Russian President Vladimir Putin's approval rating at a
three-year high of 71.6 percent. Since mid-February his ratings have
climbed by 9.7 percent. Meanwhile, Putin's favorability in the United States is five percent, according to an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll released Wednesday.
--Luke Johnson
--Luke Johnson
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8:02 AM – 03/13/2014
Angela Merkel Warns Of 'Catastrophe' For Ukraine
German Chancellor Angela Merkel addressed the Bundestag Thursday and used strong language to condemn Russian actions in Crimea.
"If Russia continues its course of the last weeks, it would not only be a catastrophe for Ukraine," she said. "It would not only change the relationship of the European Union as a whole to Russia. No, it would also, and I am firmly convinced of this, massively damage Russia both economically and politically."
Merkel's stance against Russia has been hardening in recent days. Merkel and Putin both speak each others' languages, and she has called Putin more times than any other leader to try to convince him to deescalate the situation in Crimea.
But her hardening language may indicate that she thinks her ability to persuade is waning. Merkel reportedly told President Barack Obama after a phone call with Putin that he seemed in "another world." Merkel may now be taking her observation to heart and talking tough against Putin, who often brings big dogs -- which Merkel is afraid of -- to their meetings:
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are watched by Putin's dog Kuni as they address journalists after their working meeting at the Bocharov Ruchei residence in Sochi, 21 January 2007. (DMITRY ASTAKHOV/AFP/Getty Images)
--Luke Johnson
"If Russia continues its course of the last weeks, it would not only be a catastrophe for Ukraine," she said. "It would not only change the relationship of the European Union as a whole to Russia. No, it would also, and I am firmly convinced of this, massively damage Russia both economically and politically."
Merkel's stance against Russia has been hardening in recent days. Merkel and Putin both speak each others' languages, and she has called Putin more times than any other leader to try to convince him to deescalate the situation in Crimea.
But her hardening language may indicate that she thinks her ability to persuade is waning. Merkel reportedly told President Barack Obama after a phone call with Putin that he seemed in "another world." Merkel may now be taking her observation to heart and talking tough against Putin, who often brings big dogs -- which Merkel is afraid of -- to their meetings:
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are watched by Putin's dog Kuni as they address journalists after their working meeting at the Bocharov Ruchei residence in Sochi, 21 January 2007. (DMITRY ASTAKHOV/AFP/Getty Images)
--Luke Johnson
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7:45 AM – 03/13/2014
Poll: 83 Percent Of Russians Concerned About Possibility Of Armed Conflict Between Russia And Ukraine
The independent polling outfit the Levada Center released a comprehensive survey Thursday about Russians' views on the conflict in Ukraine.
Among the findings:
-37 percent are very concerned, and 46 percent fairly concerned about the prospect of armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
-44 percent think that the introduction of Russian troops would help stabilize Ukraine, while 21 percent think it would lead to an escalation and 15 percent think it would lead to full-scale war.
-58 percent agree mostly or entirely with bringing troops to Ukraine, while 26 percent disagree.
-49 percent say Russia should definitely annex Crimea if it votes for secession, while 30 percent mostly agree. Just 10 percent mostly disagree and 2 percent say Russia should not.
-67 percent think that "radical nationalist organizations" are behind the intensity of the situation in Crimea, while 16 percent say the mafia, 2 percent say Russian leadership and 5 percent say Yanukovych supporters.
-62 percent think there is no legitimate authority in Ukraine and the country is in anarchy. 15 percent say Yanukovych is in control and 11 percent say the current Kiev government.
-63 percent think the Russian state media has completely or mostly covered the crisis in Ukraine objectively, while 25 percent think not too objectively and 4 percent say they were completely biased.
--Luke Johnson
Among the findings:
-37 percent are very concerned, and 46 percent fairly concerned about the prospect of armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
-44 percent think that the introduction of Russian troops would help stabilize Ukraine, while 21 percent think it would lead to an escalation and 15 percent think it would lead to full-scale war.
-58 percent agree mostly or entirely with bringing troops to Ukraine, while 26 percent disagree.
-49 percent say Russia should definitely annex Crimea if it votes for secession, while 30 percent mostly agree. Just 10 percent mostly disagree and 2 percent say Russia should not.
-67 percent think that "radical nationalist organizations" are behind the intensity of the situation in Crimea, while 16 percent say the mafia, 2 percent say Russian leadership and 5 percent say Yanukovych supporters.
-62 percent think there is no legitimate authority in Ukraine and the country is in anarchy. 15 percent say Yanukovych is in control and 11 percent say the current Kiev government.
-63 percent think the Russian state media has completely or mostly covered the crisis in Ukraine objectively, while 25 percent think not too objectively and 4 percent say they were completely biased.
--Luke Johnson
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7:42 AM – 03/13/2014
ATM Withdrawals In Crimea
At least at one ATM in Simferopol, the referendum is causing a bank panic:
RT @lindseyhilsum Queue at ATM in #Simferopol - 'after referendum we don't know if we'll be able to get our money'. pic.twitter.com/B9gBVlJYcB
— greg white (@whitegl) March 13, 2014
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9:46 PM – 03/12/2014
Yatsenyuk Meets Congress
HuffPost's Luke Johnson reports:
Ukraine's new Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, capping off a whirlwind day in Washington Wednesday at the State Department, the White House and the international affairs think tank Atlantic Council, said he was unconcerned about the time it may take for Congress to pass an aid package for his country. "It always takes time to make good things," Yatsenyuk told reporters after meeting with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.Read more here.
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5:37 PM – 03/12/2014
Europe Seeks Alternative Energy Solutions
The Russian invasion of
Ukraine's Crimean peninsula has prompted the European Union to seek out
sources of energy that would decrease its dependence on Russian gas.
From Foreign Policy:
--Stephen Calabria
From Foreign Policy:
The top energy official of the European Union, Gunther Oettinger, said that due to the situation in Ukraine, the E.U. will hit the brakes on further negotiations to bring the planned South Stream pipeline into compliance with E.U. regulations. Conversations over the pipeline "will be delayed," the E.U. energy commissioner told German newspaper Die Welt.That veiled threat comes at the same time that European officials are pushing back against Russian plans to get greater access to other gas pipelines that reach into the heart of Europe, such the Baltic Sea link known as OPAL. The European Commission was meant to have finalized negotiations over increased Russian access to the pipeline Monday.Read the full story here.
--Stephen Calabria
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4:51 PM – 03/12/2014
Obama: International Community Will 'Completely Reject' Crimea's 'Slapdash Election'
In a joint press conference
held with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, U.S. President
Barack Obama said Western nations would "completely reject" the results
of Sunday's scheduled independence vote in Crimea. Obama called the vote
a "slapdash election" and added that if Russia does not halt pressure
for Crimean independence, the international community would be forced to
react for violations of international law.
“There’s another path available and we hope President Putin is willing to seize that path,” Obama said.
Yatsenyuk stated he believed the U.S. and its allies stood firmly behind the Ukrainian people and their strive toward democracy.
"Mr. President, it’s all about freedom," the Ukrainian PM said. "We fight for our freedom, we fight for our independence, we fight for our sovereignty and we will never surrender.”
-- Ryan Craggs
“There’s another path available and we hope President Putin is willing to seize that path,” Obama said.
Yatsenyuk stated he believed the U.S. and its allies stood firmly behind the Ukrainian people and their strive toward democracy.
"Mr. President, it’s all about freedom," the Ukrainian PM said. "We fight for our freedom, we fight for our independence, we fight for our sovereignty and we will never surrender.”
-- Ryan Craggs
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4:50 PM – 03/12/2014
Aid Package Clears Senate Committee Vote
The Senate Foreign Foreign
Relations Committee passed a Ukraine aid package Wednesday totaling up
to $1 billion in loan guarantees. But the prospects of the bill clearing
a vote on the Senate floor remain unclear, due to its inclusion of
language to boost the U.S. share at the International Monetary Fund.
The legislation, crafted by Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), the committee chairman, and ranking member Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), was approved by a final vote of 14-3. Republican Sens. Rand Paul (Ky.), Jim Risch (Idaho), and John Barrasso (Wyo.) voted against it. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) was not present for the vote, but had said in an statement he would oppose an aid package that included the IMF language.
The IMF provision was included at President Barack Obama's request and is widely supported by Democrats, who tried and failed in January to get an increase in the U.S. quota of funds going into the IMF. Obama also included the boost of roughly $63 billion from an existing credit line to the international agency in his budget for fiscal year 2015. The White House has since pointed to the crisis in Ukraine to underscore the IMF's importance.
The IMF reform included in the Ukraine bill would be offset by taking just under $150 million from U.S. military accounts, which Menendez argued Wednesday had already been removed from the Defense Department's budget to meet the spending caps mandated by sequestration. Most Republicans have opposed IMF reform in the past, and a handful on the committee said damaging the nation's military is not an appropriate way to pay for such reform.
The IMF issue could not only jeopardize the bill's chances of passing the Senate, but also its fate in the House of Representatives. The lower chamber passed its own aid package last week without the IMF language and GOP aides have said they would not have the votes to pass legislation that included it. House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) urged the Senate to take up the House bill on Wednesday.
--Sabrina Siddiqui
The legislation, crafted by Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), the committee chairman, and ranking member Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), was approved by a final vote of 14-3. Republican Sens. Rand Paul (Ky.), Jim Risch (Idaho), and John Barrasso (Wyo.) voted against it. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) was not present for the vote, but had said in an statement he would oppose an aid package that included the IMF language.
The IMF provision was included at President Barack Obama's request and is widely supported by Democrats, who tried and failed in January to get an increase in the U.S. quota of funds going into the IMF. Obama also included the boost of roughly $63 billion from an existing credit line to the international agency in his budget for fiscal year 2015. The White House has since pointed to the crisis in Ukraine to underscore the IMF's importance.
The IMF reform included in the Ukraine bill would be offset by taking just under $150 million from U.S. military accounts, which Menendez argued Wednesday had already been removed from the Defense Department's budget to meet the spending caps mandated by sequestration. Most Republicans have opposed IMF reform in the past, and a handful on the committee said damaging the nation's military is not an appropriate way to pay for such reform.
The IMF issue could not only jeopardize the bill's chances of passing the Senate, but also its fate in the House of Representatives. The lower chamber passed its own aid package last week without the IMF language and GOP aides have said they would not have the votes to pass legislation that included it. House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) urged the Senate to take up the House bill on Wednesday.
--Sabrina Siddiqui
4:27 PM – 03/12/2014
Ukrainian PM Sits Down With Obama
U.S. President Barack Obama and Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk speak during meetings in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, March 12, 2014. (SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
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4:19 PM – 03/12/2014
Obama: 'We Will Stand With Ukraine'
More from Reuters on Yatseniuk's visit to the White House:
President Barack Obama warned Russia on Wednesday that the West will be forced to apply a cost to Moscow if it fails to change course in its dispute with Ukraine.
Obama held face-to-face talks with new Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk in the Oval Office and told reporters with Yatseniuk seated at his side that, "We will stand with Ukraine."
Yatseniuk said Ukraine stands ready for talks on the crisis, and vowed, "We will never surrender" to Russia.
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4:04 PM – 03/12/2014
WATCH: Ukrainian Women On The Front Lines
HuffPostLive's Caroline is
joined by a panel of community members to discuss how women in Ukraine
are stepping up to the front lines.
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4:00 PM – 03/12/2014
Obama: 'US And World Will Be Forced To Apply Costs'
Obama warned Russia after meeting with Ukrainian interim Prime Minister Yatseniuk at the White House:
President Obama says US and world 'will be forced to apply costs' if Russia continues its path in Ukraine - @AP
— Breaking Politics (@breakingpol) March 12, 2014
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3:57 PM – 03/12/2014
'We Will Never Surrender'Ukrainian PM, speaking in White House says "we will never surrender to Russia"
— Mark Mardell (@BBCMarkMardell) March 12, 2014
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2:46 PM – 03/12/2014
Ukraine's PM Arrives At The White HouseUkraine PM arrives at White House for Obama talks http://t.co/fM9M6yuGCz via @YahooNews pic.twitter.com/jDtLVrVlBZ
— Agence France-Presse (@AFP) March 12, 2014
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2:45 PM – 03/12/2014
Report: Putin Tells Crimean Tatar Leader That Ukraine Did Not Leave The USSR Correctly
Mustafa Dzhemilev, a Crimean
Tatar member of the Ukrainian parliament, and Russian President
Vladimir Putin spoke on the telephone Wednesday to discuss the crisis in
the region. According to Dzhemilev, Putin argued during the call that
Ukraine did not leave the USSR correctly.
"On this subject -- the territorial integrity of Ukraine -- Putin touched upon this question , that the self-declared independent Ukraine is not quite consistent with Soviet norms providing for the procedure to secede from the USSR. That is his position," Dzhemilev said, according to UNIAN, a Ukrainian news agency.
The Kremlin did not immediately have its own version of events. But the comments as relayed by Dzhemilev indicate Putin's disdain for the breakup of the former USSR. Putin has referred to it as the greatest "geopolitical catastrophe" of the twentieth century, in part at least because so many Russians found themselves residents of new countries outside Russia. That certainly includes Ukraine, where many ethnic Russians in Crimea have been agitating against the Ukrainian government. The comments might also worry other independent former Soviet Republics that have populations of ethnic Russians.
--Luke Johnson
"On this subject -- the territorial integrity of Ukraine -- Putin touched upon this question , that the self-declared independent Ukraine is not quite consistent with Soviet norms providing for the procedure to secede from the USSR. That is his position," Dzhemilev said, according to UNIAN, a Ukrainian news agency.
The Kremlin did not immediately have its own version of events. But the comments as relayed by Dzhemilev indicate Putin's disdain for the breakup of the former USSR. Putin has referred to it as the greatest "geopolitical catastrophe" of the twentieth century, in part at least because so many Russians found themselves residents of new countries outside Russia. That certainly includes Ukraine, where many ethnic Russians in Crimea have been agitating against the Ukrainian government. The comments might also worry other independent former Soviet Republics that have populations of ethnic Russians.
--Luke Johnson
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2:37 PM – 03/12/2014
Campaigning Time
@MarquardtA Wonder who put that up..
— Trish (@TrishBerg) March 12, 2014
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2:35 PM – 03/12/2014
Kerry Meets With Arseniy YatsenukHappening now → @JohnKerry is meeting with #Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. pic.twitter.com/zUQoTutPGi
— Department of State (@StateDept) March 12, 2014
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2:33 PM – 03/12/2014
Relatives Help Ukrainian Sailors Who Are Still Blocked By Russian Fleet
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2:13 PM – 03/12/2014
PHOTO: Graffiti In Simferopol
"And Putin saved Ukraine". Biblical graffiti in the streets of #Simferopol pic.twitter.com/PKKhOyHztw
— Paul Gypteau (@paulgypteau) March 12, 2014
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1:50 PM – 03/12/2014
U.S. Push To Export Natural Gas To Help Ukraine Won't Help Ukraine
U.S. politicians and the oil
and gas lobby are calling for loosened regulations on the export of
natural gas to help the new regime in Ukraine and Washington's European
allies. The only problem: this change in policy won't help Ukraine -- at
least not for years to come.
HuffPost reports on the lobby campaign looking to take advantage of the Ukraine-Russia stand-off:
HuffPost reports on the lobby campaign looking to take advantage of the Ukraine-Russia stand-off:
"We certainly like the fact that the Ukraine has essentially elevated the debate over the LNG exports," said Marty Durbin, CEO of America's Natural Gas Alliance, the biggest U.S. trade group of independent gas companies.At first glance, all six bills look like emergency relief measures, crafted to help balance Russian President Vladimir Putin's power over Ukraine. But that's not what's going to happen.--Paul Blumenthal
"Expediting liquefied natural gas exports from the U.S. to weaken Russia's standing is a red herring," Athan Manuel, senior director for the Sierra Club, an environmental group opposed to gas exports, told The Huffington Post in an email. "As Energy Secretary [Ernest] Moniz said last Wednesday, the United States doesn't have the physical capacity to export LNG, nor can we determine where LNG exports go. Exporting LNG is no quick fix to this international crisis."
If you listened to members of Congress in the last week, you'd be forgiven for thinking that American gas exports would be enough to save Ukraine. They're not. They wouldn't even leave American ports until 2015, long after Ukraine's revolution government either will have established itself or failed.
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12:43 PM – 03/12/2014
Kerry To Meet Lavrov On Friday
From AP:
Secretary of State John Kerry says he will travel to London to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (SEHR'-gay LAHV'-rahf) on Friday in a last-ditch bid to avert a new crisis over Ukraine.Kerry told Congress on Wednesday he will make the trip to try to calm rising East-West tensions ahead of a weekend referendum in Ukraine's Crimea region on whether to join Russia. Sunday's vote in the largely pro-Moscow peninsula is widely expected to endorse its secession from Ukraine. Western powers say they won't recognize the referendum because it violates Ukraine's constitution. Russia maintains it is a legitimate expression of the Crimean people's desire for self-determination.Read it here.
Kerry has been unsuccessfully trying for more than a week to broker a meeting between Russian and Ukrainian and European diplomats to ease the situation.
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12:18 PM – 03/12/2014
Senators Going To Ukraine On CODEL
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) will be leading a delegation of senators to Ukraine on Thursday.
Folks on McCain's codel to Ukraine starting Thurs: McCain, Durbin, Barrasso, Hoeven, Johnson, Murphy, Flake, Whitehouse
— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) March 12, 2014
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12:01 PM – 03/12/2014
Putin And Hollande See Things Differently
While French president
Francois Hollande emphasized his harsh language for Vladimir Putin after
a talk between both leaders on Wednesday, Russian authorities struck a
remarkably different tone.
According to Reuters, the Kremlin said on Wednesday that the world leaders discussed "possibilities for stepping up international support" to find a solution for the crisis in Ukraine.
-- Eline Gordts
According to Reuters, the Kremlin said on Wednesday that the world leaders discussed "possibilities for stepping up international support" to find a solution for the crisis in Ukraine.
-- Eline Gordts
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11:45 AM – 03/12/2014
Ukrainian Jews Not Received By Netanyahu Government
The Israeli government did not receive a group of Ukrainian Jews opposed to the Russian invasion of Crimea, reports Reuters.
Edward Dolinsky, director-general of the Ukrainian Jewish Committee, traveled to Jerusalem with Oleksandr Feldman, president of the Ukrainian Jewish Committee and a member of the Parliament of Ukraine.
More from Reuters:
"You consciously pick and choose lies and slander from the massive amount of information about Ukraine. And you know very well that Victor Yanukovich's statement concerning the time after the latest treaty had been signed that “...Kyiv is full of armed people who have begun to trash buildings, places of worship, churches. Innocent people have begun to suffer. People have simply been robbed and killed in the street...” are lies, from the first word to the very last," they wrote.
--Luke Johnson
Edward Dolinsky, director-general of the Ukrainian Jewish Committee, traveled to Jerusalem with Oleksandr Feldman, president of the Ukrainian Jewish Committee and a member of the Parliament of Ukraine.
More from Reuters:
Speaking to Reuters on Wednesday, Dolinsky said he and Feldman had sought to win Israeli support for "Ukraine and the aspirations of the Ukrainian people." He voiced dismay at the Netanyahu government's failure to oppose Russia's Crimea move.Such censure, while not voiced by all of Ukraine's 200,000 Jews, challenges Israel's effort to steer clear of the showdown between Moscow and the U.S.-backed nationalists in Kiev even as allegations of anti-Semitism surface on both sides.A group of Ukrainian Jews recently sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin rebuffing his claim of anti-Semitism on the side of Ukrainian protestors.
"We were disappointed with the Israeli reaction, the acceptance of the Ukraine situation," Dolinsky said. "They are trying to be very diplomatic with Russia because of Russian influence and the future importance of Russia for Israel's situation."
"You consciously pick and choose lies and slander from the massive amount of information about Ukraine. And you know very well that Victor Yanukovich's statement concerning the time after the latest treaty had been signed that “...Kyiv is full of armed people who have begun to trash buildings, places of worship, churches. Innocent people have begun to suffer. People have simply been robbed and killed in the street...” are lies, from the first word to the very last," they wrote.
--Luke Johnson
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11:17 AM – 03/12/2014
EU Approves Framework For Sanctions
Exclusive: EU approves framework and wording for sanctions on Russia http://t.co/0WL36wdh1U
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) March 12, 2014
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11:16 AM – 03/12/2014
Belarus Asks Russia To Deploy War Planes
Belarus announced on
Wednesday that it will ask Russia to send 12 to 15 warplanes in in
response to increased NATO activity near its borders.
From Reuters:
From Reuters:
The United States and Poland, Belarus's western neighbor, began war games on Tuesday that are expected to involve at least 12 U.S. F-16 fighter jets. A joint naval exercise of U.S., Bulgarian and Romanian naval forces in the Black Sea started on Wednesday.The drills were planned before the crisis in Ukraine but underscore support for NATO nations near Russia, which has taken control of Ukraine's Crimea region and has warned it could invade to protect Russians there after the president's ouster.-- Eline Gordts
"We reacted calmly until large-scale exercises began ... in Poland," Lukashenko said. "There is a clear escalation of the situation near our borders."
He said Belarus would ask Russia to send "no more than 12 to 15 planes", indicating that the request had been made under a clause of a "union treaty" signed by the close Slavic nations after the Soviet Union's collapse.
"Send them to Belarus, determine their patrol routes," Lukashenko said. "Let them work, let them patrol."
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11:13 AM – 03/12/2014
Hollande Warns Putin
French President Francois
Hollande warned Russia's Vladimir Putin that Paris would consider Crimea
joining Russia an "unacceptable annexation."
"The president reminded (him) that the March 16 referendum, for which preparations are ongoing in an opaque way, has no legal basis," Hollande's office said in a statement, according to Reuters.
Hollande and Putin spoke over the phone earlier today.
-- Eline Gordts
"The president reminded (him) that the March 16 referendum, for which preparations are ongoing in an opaque way, has no legal basis," Hollande's office said in a statement, according to Reuters.
Hollande and Putin spoke over the phone earlier today.
-- Eline Gordts
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11:00 AM – 03/12/2014
Lenta.Ru Journalists Release Letter After Editor Fired
Journalists from Lenta.Ru,
whose top editor was fired after the publication published an interview
with a Ukrainian right-wing leader, released a letter on the firing.
"We believe that this appointment is a direct pressure on the editor of Lenta.ru. The firing of an independent editor and appointment managed, including directly from the Kremlin offices of a person -- this is already breaking the law on the media, speaking of the unacceptability of censorship."
"We certainly expected that they would come and for us," they wrote. "We believe that this is not forever. In any case, you, dear readers, should know about it. We hope to see you soon."
--Luke Johnson
"We believe that this appointment is a direct pressure on the editor of Lenta.ru. The firing of an independent editor and appointment managed, including directly from the Kremlin offices of a person -- this is already breaking the law on the media, speaking of the unacceptability of censorship."
"We certainly expected that they would come and for us," they wrote. "We believe that this is not forever. In any case, you, dear readers, should know about it. We hope to see you soon."
--Luke Johnson
10:29 AM – 03/12/2014
Russia's Biggest Bank Cancels Its Moscow Investor Forum
Russia's biggest bank Sberbank cancels its Moscow investor forum in April, citing Ukraine tension.
— Jason Corcoran (@jason_corcoran) March 12, 2014
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9:53 AM – 03/12/2014
Top Liberal News Site Editor Fired After Publishing Interview With Right-Wing Figure
Galina Timchenko is no
longer the editor-in-chief of Lenta.ru. The Russian Federal Service for
Supervision in the Sphere of Telecom, Information Technologies and Mass
Communications had earlier warned her publication over an interview with
Ukrainian Right Sector leader Dmytro Yarosh.
A source at the publication told The Huffington Post it was unquestionably a firing. "She was fired. It is censorship," said the source.
"The warning was issued for posting extremist materials," the agency's press-service told Interfax. "The interview contained a link to the material 'Dmytro Yarosh: We are Destined to Fight the Moscow Empire Sooner or Later,'" the press service added. "The texts of the aforesaid materials contained wording that incites ethnic discord. The publication of nationalist appeals of the leaders of the informal extremist group, one of whom has been put on the international most wanted list by the Russian law enforcement authorities, violates a number of provisions of the Russian laws 'On the Deterrence of Extremism,' 'On Information, Information Technologies and Information Security' and 'On Mass Media,'"
Timchenko is one of dozens Russian journalists at top publications who have been firedsince 2011, when widespread fraud emerged in Russia's parliamentary elections. Once-independent publications such as Gazeta.ru and Kommersant have seen dozens of journalists leave or be fired after their editors allegedly came under Kremlin pressure to kill negative stories of officials.
The interview with Dmytro Yarosh, conducted by journalist Ilya Azar and titled "We -- are not an armed force," is still on the website.
Timchenko is replaced by Alexey Goreslavsky. Ilya Krasilchik, product director of Afisha, part of the same holding as Lenta.ru, slammed the decision on Facebook, writing an expletive-laden post. He called Goreslavsky "an asshole whose job consisted of to go and make friends with the Kremlin."
--Luke Johnson
A source at the publication told The Huffington Post it was unquestionably a firing. "She was fired. It is censorship," said the source.
"The warning was issued for posting extremist materials," the agency's press-service told Interfax. "The interview contained a link to the material 'Dmytro Yarosh: We are Destined to Fight the Moscow Empire Sooner or Later,'" the press service added. "The texts of the aforesaid materials contained wording that incites ethnic discord. The publication of nationalist appeals of the leaders of the informal extremist group, one of whom has been put on the international most wanted list by the Russian law enforcement authorities, violates a number of provisions of the Russian laws 'On the Deterrence of Extremism,' 'On Information, Information Technologies and Information Security' and 'On Mass Media,'"
Timchenko is one of dozens Russian journalists at top publications who have been firedsince 2011, when widespread fraud emerged in Russia's parliamentary elections. Once-independent publications such as Gazeta.ru and Kommersant have seen dozens of journalists leave or be fired after their editors allegedly came under Kremlin pressure to kill negative stories of officials.
The interview with Dmytro Yarosh, conducted by journalist Ilya Azar and titled "We -- are not an armed force," is still on the website.
Timchenko is replaced by Alexey Goreslavsky. Ilya Krasilchik, product director of Afisha, part of the same holding as Lenta.ru, slammed the decision on Facebook, writing an expletive-laden post. He called Goreslavsky "an asshole whose job consisted of to go and make friends with the Kremlin."
--Luke Johnson
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9:01 AM – 03/12/2014
'Nyet' Is Not An Option
When Crimeans vote on Sunday, their options are simple: Yes, join Russia now, or yes, join Russia later. There is no third option for not joining Russia.
Reuters reports the ballot's first option is clear: "Are you in favour of the reunification of Crimea with Russia as a part of the Russian Federation?"
The second option appears to tip toward Ukraine in its phrasing, "Are you in favour of restoring the 1992 Constitution and the status of Crimea as a part of Ukraine?"
That statement, however, is misleading. The pro-Russian assembly in Crimea chose this specific constitution, written soon after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, as it gives "Crimea all the qualities of an independent entity within Ukraine - but with the broad right to determine its own path and choose relations with whom it wants - including Russia."
Essentially, the vote only asks when Crimeans wish to join Russia, not if.
Read the full Reuters report here.
-- Ryan Craggs
Reuters reports the ballot's first option is clear: "Are you in favour of the reunification of Crimea with Russia as a part of the Russian Federation?"
The second option appears to tip toward Ukraine in its phrasing, "Are you in favour of restoring the 1992 Constitution and the status of Crimea as a part of Ukraine?"
That statement, however, is misleading. The pro-Russian assembly in Crimea chose this specific constitution, written soon after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, as it gives "Crimea all the qualities of an independent entity within Ukraine - but with the broad right to determine its own path and choose relations with whom it wants - including Russia."
Essentially, the vote only asks when Crimeans wish to join Russia, not if.
Read the full Reuters report here.
-- Ryan Craggs
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8:53 AM – 03/12/2014
G7 Says It Will Not Recognize Result Of Crimea Referendum
The G7 released a statement Wednesday stating that it would not recognize the results of a referendum on the status of Crimea.
"We, the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission, call on the Russian Federation to cease all efforts to change the status of Crimea contrary to Ukrainian law and in violation of international law," read the statement, sent by the White House. "We call on the Russian Federation to immediately halt actions supporting a referendum on the territory of Crimea regarding its status, in direct violation of the Constitution of Ukraine."
The statement continued, "Any such referendum would have no legal effect. Given the lack of adequate preparation and the intimidating presence of Russian troops, it would also be a deeply flawed process which would have no moral force. For all these reasons, we would not recognize the outcome."
The statement called on Russia to return its forces to garrisons and to "pre-Crisis numbers." It also reiterated that the member countries were suspending their preparation for June's G8 Summit set to be held in Sochi, Russia.
The referendum organized by the pro-Russian government in Crimea is set to be held on Tuesday, and voters are expected to vote to join the Russian Federation. However, Crimean authorities are already beginning the process of joining Russia, and the speed of which the referendum was called on as well as the presence of Russian forces in Crimea have both made most international observers view the election as not fair.
--Luke Johnson
"We, the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission, call on the Russian Federation to cease all efforts to change the status of Crimea contrary to Ukrainian law and in violation of international law," read the statement, sent by the White House. "We call on the Russian Federation to immediately halt actions supporting a referendum on the territory of Crimea regarding its status, in direct violation of the Constitution of Ukraine."
The statement continued, "Any such referendum would have no legal effect. Given the lack of adequate preparation and the intimidating presence of Russian troops, it would also be a deeply flawed process which would have no moral force. For all these reasons, we would not recognize the outcome."
The statement called on Russia to return its forces to garrisons and to "pre-Crisis numbers." It also reiterated that the member countries were suspending their preparation for June's G8 Summit set to be held in Sochi, Russia.
The referendum organized by the pro-Russian government in Crimea is set to be held on Tuesday, and voters are expected to vote to join the Russian Federation. However, Crimean authorities are already beginning the process of joining Russia, and the speed of which the referendum was called on as well as the presence of Russian forces in Crimea have both made most international observers view the election as not fair.
--Luke Johnson
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8:35 AM – 03/12/2014
Odessans Protest Russian Incursion By Throwing Spaghetti At Consulate
In one of the most inventive
forms of political protest, opponents of the Russian invasion of Crimea
threw noodles at the Russian consulate in Odessa, Ukraine. The protest
is a reference to the great Russian idiom of hanging noodles on one's
ears, which means that the person is lying.
"Noodles Putin-Style -- We're Fed Up!" reads a sign
Here are some pics: --Luke Johnson
"Noodles Putin-Style -- We're Fed Up!" reads a sign
Here are some pics: --Luke Johnson
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8:07 AM – 03/12/2014
Menendez Reveals Ukraine Aid And Sanctions Bill
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, outlined a sanctions bill in Wednesday morning's edition of the Washington Post:
--Luke Johnson
●It provides for loan guarantees for Ukraine, consistent with the $1 billion announced by the Obama administration in recent days and mirroring just-passed House legislation.The House has already passed its own aid package on Thursday.
●It directs the Obama administration to assist the Ukrainian government in identifying, securing and recovering assets linked to acts of corruption by former prime minister Viktor Yanukovych, members of his family or other former or current Ukrainian government officials.
●It authorizes $50 million for democracy, governance and civil society assistance and $100 million for enhanced security cooperation for Ukraine and other states in Central and Eastern Europe.
●It provides for additional sanctions, complementing the president’s executive order, against Ukrainians and Russians alike responsible for violence and serious human rights abuses against anti-government protesters and those responsible for undermining the peace, security, stability, sovereignty or territorial integrity of Ukraine.
●It imposes sanctions on Russians complicit in or responsible for significant corruption in Ukraine.
●It includes needed reforms to the United States’ participation in the International Monetary Fund, which would allow Washington to leverage significant support from the IMF for Ukraine today and for similar crises in the future.
--Luke Johnson
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7:29 AM – 03/12/2014
Ukraine's President Says He Will Not Attempt Military Action On Crimea
Ukraine's acting President
Oleksandr Turchynov said Wednesday that the country would not launch a
military action to try to take control of Crimea as Russian forces
remain on the peninsula.
"We cannot launch a military operation in Crimea, as we would expose the eastern border and Ukraine would not be protected," he told AFP.
He also dismissed the upcoming March 16 referendum as fixed. "What they call the referendum will not happen in Crimea but in the offices of the Kremlin."
--Luke Johnson
"We cannot launch a military operation in Crimea, as we would expose the eastern border and Ukraine would not be protected," he told AFP.
He also dismissed the upcoming March 16 referendum as fixed. "What they call the referendum will not happen in Crimea but in the offices of the Kremlin."
--Luke Johnson
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7:25 AM – 03/12/2014
Flights Limited In And Out Of Crimea To Keep Out 'Provocateurs': Top Crimean Official
Crimea's Simferopol Airport
will limit its flights until the referendum to keep out "provocateurs,"
according to Crimean First Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Temirgaliyev.
"Bearing in mind the possible influx of provocateurs, we have limited plane arrivals. The measure will be discriminative; all limitations will be lifted after March 17 and the airport will resume its normal operation," he told Interfax, a Russian wire service.
The only flights in and out of Simferopol that are landing are from Moscow. Kiev and Istanbul flights are cancelled.
--Luke Johnson
"Bearing in mind the possible influx of provocateurs, we have limited plane arrivals. The measure will be discriminative; all limitations will be lifted after March 17 and the airport will resume its normal operation," he told Interfax, a Russian wire service.
The only flights in and out of Simferopol that are landing are from Moscow. Kiev and Istanbul flights are cancelled.
--Luke Johnson
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7:03 PM – 03/11/2014
Acting President: Ukraine Won't Intervene In Crimea Breakaway
Ukraine's acting president Oleksandr Turchynov told AFP on
Tuesday that the country "cannot launch a military operation in Crimea,
as we would expose the eastern border and Ukraine would not be
protected."
Read the full story here.
Read the full story here.
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4:37 PM – 03/11/2014
Crimea: Journalists Wishing To Cover The Referendum Shouldn't Spread Negative Information About It
The Crimean parliament released an information sheet for journalists wishing to be accredited to cover this week's referendum. The press release has ten points, and point #10 states:
A journalist with media accreditation must:objectively inform their media audience on the voting process;--Luke Johnson
In their professional activities, use documented and supported facts, abide by the general norms of journalistic ethics, and also not spread materials of a negative character.
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4:09 PM – 03/11/2014
EU To Offer Trade Benefits
The European Union is planning to offer Ukraine new trade benefits to help support the country's economy.
Reuters reports:
Reuters reports:
"The European Commission is committed and ready to support Ukraine to stabilise its economic and financial situation," Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said. "This proposal is a concrete, tangible measure of EU support to Ukraine."...Read the full story here.
European Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said the new trade benefits would be in force until at least Nov. 1 this year, by which time the European Union expects to have signed a full free-trade agreement with a new government in Ukraine.
While the bilateral trade relationship is relatively small at 38.3 billion euros in 2012, the European Union is Ukraine's top trading partner, representing about a third of the country's total trade, slightly more than with Russia.
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12:29 PM – 03/11/2014
Kerry And Lavrov Discuss Ukraine
U.S. Secretary of State John
Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov once again discussed
the situation in Ukraine on Tuesday.
Reuters reports:
Reuters reports:
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told his U.S. counterpart John Kerry on Tuesday that any solution to Ukraine's crisis must take into account the interests of all Ukrainians in all regions and that the right of residents of Crimea to determine their future must be respected, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.Kerry and Lavrov "exchanged opinions about concrete proposals by Russia and the United States to ensure civil peace and concord" in Ukraine, the ministry said in a statement. It gave no indication they had reached any agreement, but said they would continue to talk.-- Eline Gordts
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12:19 PM – 03/11/2014
Internet Switched Off?
In a tweet, Euromaiden
claimed on Tuesday that the internet has been switched off in the city
of Sevastopol in Crimea and that Ukrainian channels were no longer
available.
Internet has been switched off.Not a single #Ukrainian channel either,everything's been cut off.Only #Russian channels left-Sevastopol resid
— Euromaidan PR (@EuromaidanPR) March 11, 2014
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12:08 PM – 03/11/2014
Kiev: Almost 19,900 Russian Troops In Crimea
Ukraine's foreign ministry said on Tuesday it believes almost 19,000 Russian troops are currently in Crimea, Interfax reports.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Yevhen Perebyinis said at a briefing that the interim government estimates 18,800 Russian troops were in Crimea as of March 10. That number includes 11,400 Russian Black Sea Fleet servicemen and 7,400 servicemen from the military units and associations of the Russian Armed Forces.
-- Eline Gordts
Foreign Ministry spokesman Yevhen Perebyinis said at a briefing that the interim government estimates 18,800 Russian troops were in Crimea as of March 10. That number includes 11,400 Russian Black Sea Fleet servicemen and 7,400 servicemen from the military units and associations of the Russian Armed Forces.
-- Eline Gordts
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11:37 AM – 03/11/2014
In Case You Were WonderingAusterity RT @chryslap The entire #Ukraine delegation, including PM Yatsenyuk, flew coach on commercial flight for talks at the White House
— greg white (@whitegl) March 11, 2014
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11:16 AM – 03/11/2014
Crimean Referendum Website Back Up...At .Ru Domain
The Crimean referendum's website resurfaced Tuesday, but at a .ru domain
after it had started at a .ua domain. The switch was the latest sign
that Crimean authorities expect it to pass in favor of joining Russia.
--Luke Johnson
--Luke Johnson
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10:41 AM – 03/11/2014
OSCE Observers On Way To DonetskContinuation of visit by @osce participating States to assess military situation #Ukraine - update. Now 44 in team, on the way to Donetsk.
— Cathie Burton (@catheebee) March 11, 2014
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10:13 AM – 03/11/2014
Simferopol Airport's Only Flight Option: Moscow
A British journalist tweets a
picture of the departures board at Simferopol Airport. All of the
flights are cancelled except those to Moscow.
Departures board at Semferopol airport - Moscow only option. @nickmartinsky latest frm terminal live on sky news soon pic.twitter.com/4MbW9hY6Ol
— Tom Rayner (@RaynerSkyNews) March 11, 2014
--Luke Johnson
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10:07 AM – 03/11/2014
Crimea Parliament Bans Pravy Sektor
Crimea's pro-Kremlin parliament has banned activities by Pravy Sektor and other far-right groups according to ITAR-TASS.
The parliament's press service said that the groups “pose a threat to
Crimea’s security” and blamed them for escalating violence in the
peninsula.
Pravy Sektor took a prominent role in the protests that ousted former President Viktor Yanukovych. Dmitro Yarosh, Pravy Sektor's leader, announces last Friday he would take part in Ukraine's presidential elections.
-- Charlotte Alfred
Pravy Sektor took a prominent role in the protests that ousted former President Viktor Yanukovych. Dmitro Yarosh, Pravy Sektor's leader, announces last Friday he would take part in Ukraine's presidential elections.
-- Charlotte Alfred
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9:49 AM – 03/11/2014
Here Is A Poster For The Referendum
Posters are going up over Crimea for the referendum. Here is one, per AFP, reading "Crimea -- Russia."
Referendum posters going up in Crimea's Simferopol head of March 16 vote. All pro-Russian. pic.twitter.com/fIOOzC3V6z
— Katherine Haddon (@khaddon) March 11, 2014
-- Luke Johnson
9:22 AM – 03/11/2014
Negotiations To Free Kidnappes Reportes
Ukraine's interior minister
said on Tuesday that it is negotiating with pro-Russian forces to have
three Ukrainian journalists released. The reporters were kidnapped on
Sunday by pro-Russian gunmen on the border with Crimea.
From Reuters:
From Reuters:
"Police have found the kidnapped women journalists in Crimea. Negotiations are taking place. Let's hope all will be well," Avakov said.The three journalists - Kateryna Butko, Alexandra Ryazantseva and Olena Maksymenko - were detained at a checkpoint manned by Russian Unity and later taken to the port city of Sevastopol, ministry sources said.-- Eline Gordts
The three were the subject of a statement by the Paris-based watchdog Reporters Without Borders on Tuesday which also expressed alarm at what it described as a "steady escalation in violations of journalists' rights in Crimea".
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9:17 AM – 03/11/2014
Crimea Reportedly Closes Its Airspace
Reuters reports that Crimea has closed its airspace to commercial flights, mere days before a referendum takes place that will decide on the region's ties to Ukraine.
-- Eline Gordts
-- Eline Gordts
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9:15 AM – 03/11/2014
Kiev Warns Crimea Lawmakers
Ukraine's parliament warned
pro-Russian lawmakers in Crimea that the region's regional assembly
faces dissolution if it continues with a referendum planned for this
week. Reuters reports that Kiev gave Crimea until Wednesday to call of the referendum.
-- Eline Gordts
-- Eline Gordts
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8:46 AM – 03/11/2014
Yatsenyuk Meeting With Boehner And Pelosi Too
Ukrainian Prime Minister
Areseniy Yatsenyuk is also meeting with House Speaker John Boehner
(R-Ohio) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif) on Wednesday:
Acting Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk to visit Capitol Wednesday. Evening mtg with Boehner/Pelosi.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 11, 2014
--Luke Johnson
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8:45 AM – 03/11/2014
PHOTOS: Checkpoints Block Access To CrimeaArmed pro-Russian servicemen stand guard at Chongar checkpoint blocking the entrance to Crimea on March 10, 2014. (ALISA BOROVIKOVA/AFP/Getty Images)
A man holds his hands on his head as he is searched by pro-Russian servicemen at Chongar checkpoint blocking the entrance to Crimea on March 10, 2014. (ALISA BOROVIKOVA/AFP/Getty Images)
Men hold their hands up on their heads as they are searched by pro-Russian servicemen at Chongar checkpoint blocking the entrance to Crimea on March 10, 2014. (ALISA BOROVIKOVA/AFP/Getty Images)
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7:47 AM – 03/11/2014
Crimean Speaker Agrees: Yanukovych Is Still President
Crimean Parliament Speaker
Volodymyr Konstantinov said Tuesday that ousted President Viktor
Yanukovych was still president of Ukraine, but added that it wasn't
important since the peninsula was going to hold a referendum anyway.
"This is one more confirmation of non-legitimacy of current Ukrainian authorities. All that they say is of no major importance for us today. Crimean residents have made their choice and are going their own way using their right for self-determination,” he said according to ITAR-TASS. “Yanukovich is legitimate president, he will do what he finds needed, it is difficult for me to comment on him (his actions)."
--Luke Johnson
"This is one more confirmation of non-legitimacy of current Ukrainian authorities. All that they say is of no major importance for us today. Crimean residents have made their choice and are going their own way using their right for self-determination,” he said according to ITAR-TASS. “Yanukovich is legitimate president, he will do what he finds needed, it is difficult for me to comment on him (his actions)."
--Luke Johnson
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7:19 AM – 03/11/2014
Yanukovych: I'm Still The President
Ousted Ukrainian President
Viktor Yanukovych gave a statement to reporters in Rostov-Na-Don,
Russia, insisting that he is still the legitimate president of the
country, despite fleeing and being voted for removal by the country's
Parliament.
"I am still alive and I am still the legitimate president," he said, according to Russia Today. He said that the May 25 elections were "absolutely illegitimate."
Yanukovych accused the West of supporting fascists in helping Ukraine with financial aid. "I want to ask the patrons of these dark forces in the west -- have you been blinded, have you forgotten what fascism is?" he said, according to RIA. "As far as I am aware, the laws of the United States forbid the provision of financial aid to any state where the legally elected president has been overthrown," he said. "I intend to appeal to Congress, the Senate and the Constitutional Court."
He made more Nazi references. "[Kiev] is being patrolled by masked men wearing armbands. There are growing outrages against the citizens of Ukraine," he said. "They have fired top army officers, those who do not want to use the armed forces against the civilian population in the southeast of the country."
Yanukovych, who said he was living with an "old friend" in Rostov, said he planned to return to Kiev "as circumstances allow."
It was Yanukovych's first public statement since Feb. 28, when he also spoke from Rostov. Parliament voted to remove him on Feb. 22.
--Luke Johnson
"I am still alive and I am still the legitimate president," he said, according to Russia Today. He said that the May 25 elections were "absolutely illegitimate."
Yanukovych accused the West of supporting fascists in helping Ukraine with financial aid. "I want to ask the patrons of these dark forces in the west -- have you been blinded, have you forgotten what fascism is?" he said, according to RIA. "As far as I am aware, the laws of the United States forbid the provision of financial aid to any state where the legally elected president has been overthrown," he said. "I intend to appeal to Congress, the Senate and the Constitutional Court."
He made more Nazi references. "[Kiev] is being patrolled by masked men wearing armbands. There are growing outrages against the citizens of Ukraine," he said. "They have fired top army officers, those who do not want to use the armed forces against the civilian population in the southeast of the country."
Yanukovych, who said he was living with an "old friend" in Rostov, said he planned to return to Kiev "as circumstances allow."
It was Yanukovych's first public statement since Feb. 28, when he also spoke from Rostov. Parliament voted to remove him on Feb. 22.
--Luke Johnson
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7:10 AM – 03/11/2014
Crimean Parliament Adopts Declaration Of Independence
The Crimean parliament voted for a "declaration of independence" Tuesday, one week before a planned referendum on whether to join Russia.
The resolution had three parts:
--Luke Johnson
The resolution had three parts:
- Should the forthcoming March 16 referendum of the Crimean people decide to join Russia, the peninsula will be declared an independent and sovereign state with republican form of governing.- The Republic of Crimea will be democratic, secular and multinational state obliged to support peace, international and inter-confessional consent on its territory.Seventy-eight deputies backed the resolution, out of 81 who took part in the vote, the Crimean governing body said.
- As an independent state in case of respective results of the referendum, the Republic of Crimea will address Russia to request its joining to the Russian Federation as new subject of the Federation.
--Luke Johnson
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11:03 PM – 03/10/2014
Obama Consults With World Leaders
Obama consulted with Spanish
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and Kazakhstan President Nursultan
Nazarbayev on Monday to discuss the crisis in Ukraine.
Read the full story here.
Read the full story here.
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5:30 PM – 03/10/2014
Khodorkovsky Speaks Out Against Moscow's Moves
Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the
former Russian tycoon who was released from prison last year, spoke out
against Moscow's moves in Ukraine.
Khodokovsky traveled to Kiev, the Associated Press reports, and said there that Putin is ruining Russia's longstanding friendship with Ukraine.
"The question of Crimea's fate is very painful both for Ukrainians and for Russians. It's not just a simple territorial dispute for some extra square kilometers," Khodorkovsky told a packed hall at Kiev Polytechnic University.
"For Russians, it's a sacred place, an important element in our historical memory and the most painful wound since the Soviet collapse," Khodorkovsky said. Nevertheless, he said, the symbolism of Crimea for Russians cannot justify "such a blatant incursion into the affairs of a historically friendly state."
Read more here.
-- Eline Gordts
Khodokovsky traveled to Kiev, the Associated Press reports, and said there that Putin is ruining Russia's longstanding friendship with Ukraine.
"The question of Crimea's fate is very painful both for Ukrainians and for Russians. It's not just a simple territorial dispute for some extra square kilometers," Khodorkovsky told a packed hall at Kiev Polytechnic University.
"For Russians, it's a sacred place, an important element in our historical memory and the most painful wound since the Soviet collapse," Khodorkovsky said. Nevertheless, he said, the symbolism of Crimea for Russians cannot justify "such a blatant incursion into the affairs of a historically friendly state."
Read more here.
-- Eline Gordts
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5:26 PM – 03/10/2014
Crimea's Tarter Community Organizes Watch Patrols
Crimea's Tartar community is
organizing community-watch patrols ahead of the region's planned
referendum. The Associated Press reports that the community, which was
deported during World War II, fears it will once again become unwelcome
if Crimea would separate from Ukraine.
-- Eline Gordts
"It turned out that there's a sudden sense of danger," said Dilyaver Reshetov, who heads the watch group in Simferopol's Akmechet neighborhood.While Crimea's ethnic Russian majority may be in favor of joining Russia, Muslim Tatars have rallied to support the new Ukrainian leaders in Kiev. This, they fear, will make them a target of rising Russian nationalism on the Black Sea peninsula.Read the full story here.
-- Eline Gordts
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5:17 PM – 03/10/2014
Report: 2 Ukrainian Journalists Kidnapped
Two Ukrainian journalists
went missing in Crimea, Reporters Without Borders said on Monday.
According to the organization, the reporters were kidnapped at the
Crimean border on Sunday and have been missing since.
“The forces controlling the Crimea are responsible for the fate of these journalists,” Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Christophe Deloire said. “We demand that they provide immediate information about their location and state of health, and that they release them without delay.”
The organization added that violations of journalists' rights have been steadily escalating since the start of the crisis.
Read more here.
“The forces controlling the Crimea are responsible for the fate of these journalists,” Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Christophe Deloire said. “We demand that they provide immediate information about their location and state of health, and that they release them without delay.”
The organization added that violations of journalists' rights have been steadily escalating since the start of the crisis.
Read more here.
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5:13 PM – 03/10/2014
Kerry And Lavrov May Meet Again
The United States said on
Monday it would be willing to enter new talks with Russia if Moscow
would be willing to engage seriously on a diplomatic solution for the
Crimean crisis.
"Kerry made clear to Foreign Minister Lavrov that he would welcome further discussions focused on how to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine if and when we see concrete evidence that Russia is prepared to engage on these proposals," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a written statement, according to Reuters.
Read more from Reuters here.
"Kerry made clear to Foreign Minister Lavrov that he would welcome further discussions focused on how to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine if and when we see concrete evidence that Russia is prepared to engage on these proposals," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a written statement, according to Reuters.
Read more from Reuters here.
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5:09 PM – 03/10/2014
Crimea Receives Request From Russian Central Election Commission To Monitor Elections
Russia's Central Election Commission has asked to be allowed to act as an international observer in the Crimean Referendum, reports Interfax. The head of Crimea's Election Commission, Mikhail Malyshev, told reporters that he will consider the application.
Crimean authorities announced earlier on Monday that they had invited the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, but the OSCE said it would be difficult for the organization to participate because Crimea is not a member state. "As far as we know, Crimea is not a participating state of the OSCE, so it would be sort of hard for them to invite us," a spokeswoman for the agency told Reuters.
"We hope that there will be observers from all countries, but we are not afraid, if observers from Western countries will not come. We can not force them to do so," said head of the Crimean Election Commission Mikhail Malyshev.
--Luke Johnson
Crimean authorities announced earlier on Monday that they had invited the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, but the OSCE said it would be difficult for the organization to participate because Crimea is not a member state. "As far as we know, Crimea is not a participating state of the OSCE, so it would be sort of hard for them to invite us," a spokeswoman for the agency told Reuters.
"We hope that there will be observers from all countries, but we are not afraid, if observers from Western countries will not come. We can not force them to do so," said head of the Crimean Election Commission Mikhail Malyshev.
--Luke Johnson
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3:20 PM – 03/10/2014
Crimea Invites OSCE Observers
Crimea has invited the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to send
monitors to observe the polling during a planned referendum on the
region's autonomy next week.
Reuters notes that it was Russia's RIA news agency that first reported on the invitation. According to the OSCE, however, Crimea does not have the authority to invite the monitors as the region is not a full-fledged state.
Military observers from the OSCE who tried to enter Crimea in previous days were halted by unidentified gunmen on two different occasions.
-- Eline Gordts
Reuters notes that it was Russia's RIA news agency that first reported on the invitation. According to the OSCE, however, Crimea does not have the authority to invite the monitors as the region is not a full-fledged state.
Military observers from the OSCE who tried to enter Crimea in previous days were halted by unidentified gunmen on two different occasions.
-- Eline Gordts
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3:15 PM – 03/10/2014
NATO Sends Awacs To Poland, Ukraine
NATO is sending Awacs surveillance planes to Poland and Romania to help monitor the crisis in Ukraine, ITV reports.
Read more here.
Read more here.
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3:13 PM – 03/10/2014
European Shares Fall Again
European shares dropped on Monday as the crisis in Ukraine continued into the new week.
Reuters reports:
Reuters reports:
Most European indexes swung lower in the afternoon after the Interfax news agency reported Russian troops opened fire with automatic rifles during a takeover of a Ukrainian naval post in Crimea.The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index was down 0.5 percent at 1,319.83 points at 1529 GMT, re-testing a low set last week in a broad sell-off involving most sectors and national indexes.Read the full story here.
German steel maker ThyssenKrupp, down 3.1 percent, was among the top fallers in Europe as Chinese steel and iron ore futures slumped to their lowest levels ever on concerns about a slowdown in the world's top commodity buyer.
Trade data showed China's exports in February tumbled 18.1 percent from a year earlier, raising questions about the health of the country's economy.
Global miners Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton were down 2.2 percent and 1.6 percent respectively.
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3:09 PM – 03/10/2014
EU Diplomats Preparing New Sanctions
The European Union is
preparing a new set of sanctions targeting Russia for its role in the
Ukrainian crisis, Reuters reports on Monday.
"There is no sign of de-escalation from Russia's side and so the EU may have no choice but to move immediately to travel bans, asset freezes and the cancellation of the EU-Russia summit," an EU official said, according to the news service.
Read the full story here.
"There is no sign of de-escalation from Russia's side and so the EU may have no choice but to move immediately to travel bans, asset freezes and the cancellation of the EU-Russia summit," an EU official said, according to the news service.
Read the full story here.
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2:55 PM – 03/10/2014
U.S. Senate Is Preparing Ukraine BillU.S. Senate is preparing Ukraine bill, including sanctions and aid: congressional aides
— Reuters Politics (@ReutersPolitics) March 10, 2014
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2:53 PM – 03/10/2014
PHOTO: 'The Military Forces Of The Autonomous Republic Of Crimea'
Crimea's pro-Kremlin prime
minister Sergiy Aksyonov attended a swearing-in ceremony for new
recruits to a pro-Russian force in Simferopol on Monday. The troops are
being dubbed "the military forces of the autonomous republic of Crimea."
Lindsey Hilsum of Britain's Channel 4 News reported that around 40 recruits "in balaclavas and fatigues so new they still had creases from the packaging" were sworn in at the ceremony. At the recruitment center's entrance, the Ukrainian shield was painted over in Russian colors, she said.
"The proceedings, which lasted about half an hour, combined farce and menace. It was like watching a military recruitment ceremony in a distorting mirror, where nothing is quite what it seems," Hilsum reported.
At a similar ceremony on Saturday, Crimean premier Aksyonov said the force's main role would be to "keep the peace." He said he didn't foresee any fighting with the Ukrainian soldiers still in Crimea. "They are not our enemies," Aksyonov said.
Crimea's prime minister Sergiy Aksyonov at the Republican military enlistment complex in Simferopol on March 10, 2014. (FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images)
-- Charlotte Alfred
Lindsey Hilsum of Britain's Channel 4 News reported that around 40 recruits "in balaclavas and fatigues so new they still had creases from the packaging" were sworn in at the ceremony. At the recruitment center's entrance, the Ukrainian shield was painted over in Russian colors, she said.
"The proceedings, which lasted about half an hour, combined farce and menace. It was like watching a military recruitment ceremony in a distorting mirror, where nothing is quite what it seems," Hilsum reported.
At a similar ceremony on Saturday, Crimean premier Aksyonov said the force's main role would be to "keep the peace." He said he didn't foresee any fighting with the Ukrainian soldiers still in Crimea. "They are not our enemies," Aksyonov said.
Crimea's prime minister Sergiy Aksyonov at the Republican military enlistment complex in Simferopol on March 10, 2014. (FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images)
-- Charlotte Alfred
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