Live Blog: Ukraine In Crisis (Archive)

Lavrov: "We are convinced -- and, as I understand, our partners also share this approach -- that regardless of various interpretations of various events that have taken place in the course of the Ukrainian crisis, today it is necessary to focus on an unconditional and immediate halt of bloodshed and use of force and the establishment of a dialogue involving all Ukrainian regions in order to agree upon the future state structure of this country."

Lavrov: "We are convinced that the key to the resolution of the situation certainly is halting this military operation against the protesters. It is then that the people whom you call separatists will -- I am convinced -- reciprocate. No one is interested in perpetuating the war over there."

Lavrov: "The choice, of course, is to be made by the Ukrainian people and, by the way, when we say that Ukraine has to make a choice, we respect any choice whatsoever, while some European Union members are voicing demands to respect a choice of Ukraine in favor of the eurointegration. The choice hasn't been made yet. It is up to the authorities to make that choice and it'd better be made once all branches of Ukrainian government are fully legitimate and enjoy the support of the entire nation."

Sikorski: "Poland supports the dialogue [proposed in the roadmap of the OSCE] and efforts to seek a political resolution [of the crisis]. However, this doesn't change the fact that we believe that Ukraine, as a sovereign country, has a right to use force against illegal armed groups that are striving to destabilize the situation within its borders."

Sikorski: "We are concerned about the presence of Russian volunteers in the east of Ukraine and the activities of units from the Caucasus. Let me remind everyone that it is something that has already backfired against Russia itself in the past."

Sikorski: "We do not see any threats against Russia that would emanate from Kyiv's rapprochement with the European Union, whereas Ukraine's NATO membership is not on agenda."

A spokesperson for the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic has denied reports about the arrest of Slovyansk "people's mayor" Vyacheslav Ponomaryov.

"The information about Vyacheslav's arrest is a lie. At this moment he is at a meeting," the DPR spokesperson told Interfax on Tuesday.

Earlier on Tuesday several media outlets said Ponomaryov had been relieved of his duties as the "people's mayor" of Slovyansk.

Later reports, citing a militia representative, said he was arrested.

"I do not rule out that, under martial-law conditions, Igor Strelkov (the DPR defense minister) may have made a decision on some staff reshuffling, not least on the replacement of the people's mayor of Slovyansk. However, the leaders of the republic in Donetsk have yet to be notified of this decision," DPR first deputy prime minister ndrei [sic] Purgin said in response to an Interfax request to comment on the contradicting reports about the fate of Ponomaryov.

Lavrov: "We are convinced -- and, as I understand, our partners also share this approach -- that regardless of various interpretations of various events that have taken place in the course of the Ukrainian crisis, today it is necessary to focus on an unconditional and immediate halt of bloodshed and use of force and the establishment of a dialogue involving all Ukrainian regions in order to agree upon the future state structure of this country."

Lavrov: "We are convinced that the key to the resolution of the situation certainly is halting this military operation against the protesters. It is then that the people whom you call separatists will -- I am convinced -- reciprocate. No one is interested in perpetuating the war over there."

Lavrov: "The choice, of course, is to be made by the Ukrainian people and, by the way, when we say that Ukraine has to make a choice, we respect any choice whatsoever, while some European Union members are voicing demands to respect a choice of Ukraine in favor of the eurointegration. The choice hasn't been made yet. It is up to the authorities to make that choice and it'd better be made once all branches of Ukrainian government are fully legitimate and enjoy the support of the entire nation."

Sikorski: "Poland supports the dialogue [proposed in the roadmap of the OSCE] and efforts to seek a political resolution [of the crisis]. However, this doesn't change the fact that we believe that Ukraine, as a sovereign country, has a right to use force against illegal armed groups that are striving to destabilize the situation within its borders."

Sikorski: "We are concerned about the presence of Russian volunteers in the east of Ukraine and the activities of units from the Caucasus. Let me remind everyone that it is something that has already backfired against Russia itself in the past."

Sikorski: "We do not see any threats against Russia that would emanate from Kyiv's rapprochement with the European Union, whereas Ukraine's NATO membership is not on agenda."

Sikorski: "We believe that if Russia wants to prove it wants de-escalation in Ukraine, then the best way to do it will be to prevent separatists and weapons from crossing the Russian-Ukrainian border."

Steinmeier: "I cannot say that a political solution to this crisis has already been found, but, nevertheless, the escalation, that we had been observing every day over the past few months, made way for a new atmosphere."