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Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a news conference at his country residence of Novo-Ogaryova outside Moscow on March 4.
Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a news conference at his country residence of Novo-Ogaryova outside Moscow on March 4.

Live Blog: Ukraine On The Brink

Summary

-- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Kyiv as U.S. officials announced Washington is preparing a $1 billion aid package for Ukraine.

-- Speaking at a press conference at his residence, Russian President Vladimir Putin has called the change of government in Ukraine an "unconstitutional overthrow and an armed seizure of power."

-- Putin also said there are no considerations to annex Crimea and no intentions to provoke separatist sentiment. He said it is up to the citizens of Crimea to determine their own future.

-- In Crimea, there are standoffs between Russian and Ukrainian troops in their bases, with conflicting reports of ultimatums given to Ukrainian troops to surrender that come and pass.

-- Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin has said that Ukraine's ousted President Viktor Yanukovych sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin requesting that he use the Russian military to restore law and order in his country.

-- In eastern Ukraine, pro-Russian demonstrators have occupied part of the regional government building in the city of Donetsk. Meanwhile, a few hundred pro-Russian activists tried but failed to force their way into the regional administration building in the southern city of Odesa.

NOTE: Live blog updates are listed according to local time in Kyiv

-- Glenn Kates / Luke Allnutt / Coilin O'Connor / Dan Wisniewski
12:06 24.2.2014
Another one posted by EuroMaidan PR: intercepted conversations from snipers on the roofs. It's hard to verify, other than saying that the English subtitles match up with the conversation and the exchange sounds incredibly real.


11:56 24.2.2014
In Sevastopol, Berkut are greeted with flowers. Video posted by the opposition EuroMaidan organization.

11:23 24.2.2014
Starting up again for the day. Check out the summary above for all the main developments. In the meantime, a great cover from the Polish "Newsweek":

20:33 23.2.2014
A sad and poignant tweet. And with that we'll wrap up for the day. Please do keep following us at rferl.org.

19:23 23.2.2014
They do like their lions.

19:19 23.2.2014
From Reuters. Mourning on Independence Square:

Mourning On Kyiv's Independence Square
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18:53 23.2.2014
From the agencies. The European Union's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton will visit Ukraine on Monday for talks with key players in the country.

A statement from her office said Sunday, "In Kyiv, she is expected to meet key stakeholders and discuss the support of the European Union for a lasting solution to the political crisis and measures to stabilize the economic situation."

Ashton's visit comes after a dramatic weekend in Ukraine, where parliament appointed an interim leader and ousted President Viktor Yanukovych.

The EU has said it is prepared to offer economic support to Ukraine but it would be conditional on the country reaching an agreement with the International Monetary Fund.
17:39 23.2.2014
Video from our Ukraine Service: Dnipropetrovsk Honors Victims Of Kyiv Violence

Dnipropetrovsk Honors Victims Of Kyiv Violence
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16:36 23.2.2014
Barack Obama's national security adviser, Susan Rice, said it would not be in the interest of Russia, Europe, or the United States to see Ukraine split apart. From the agencies:
Speaking on the NBC program "Meet the Press" on Sunday, Rice also said it would be a "grave mistake" for Russia to send military forces into Ukraine.

Rice, asked about a possible scenario in which Russia would its military into Ukraine to restore a government more friendly to Moscow, she said "That would be a grave mistake... It's in nobody's interest to see violence return and the situation escalate."

Rice's comments came after Ukraine's parliament appointed an interim president after impeaching pro-Russia President Viktor Yanukovych.

Yanukovych, whose whereabouts are unknown, has said he will not resign and that all decisions by parliament are illegal.
16:08 23.2.2014
Ukraine's Channel 5 quoting the head of Maidan security, Andriy Parubiy, as saying it is "too early" to talk about protesters leaving Kyiv's Independence Square. He says all the Maidan's demands must be met, namely European integration and the punishment of those responsible for "giving and fulfilling criminal orders," and that parliamentary elections should be called.

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