17:39
23.2.2014
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.
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.
19:23
23.2.2014
They do like their lions.
If you thought Yanukovych's residence was tasteless, check out the house of Prosecutor General Pshonka: http://t.co/gJi3xALCs0
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) February 23, 2014
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.
Who killed her? Where is he? Not a single officer/official arrested, so far #Ukraine #Euromaidan #Ukraineprotests pic.twitter.com/Tzc1SZcKxr
— Ukrainian Updates (@Ukroblogger) February 23, 2014
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":
"Поляки молодцы!" pic.twitter.com/WtaWUcvl8u
— УКРАЇНА БЕЗ ЧИВОКУНЯ (@Maidenua) February 23, 2014
11:56
24.2.2014
In Sevastopol, Berkut are greeted with flowers. Video posted by the opposition EuroMaidan organization.
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.
12:32
24.2.2014
An illuminating piece by Alessandra Prentice at Reuters looking at Ukraine's "sotnyi," the hard-core opposition defense force:
The groups operate with the blessing of a parliament now controlled by Yanukovich's foes and a police force that melted away on Saturday when he was toppled.
[…]
The sotnyi say they are needed to protect Ukraine's people and institutions of power during a time of political flux, at least until a new president is elected on May 25.
But it now appears their ambitions extend far beyond Kiev, into Yanukovich's eastern heartland, a collection of mainly Russian-speaking regions that are uneasy with events in the capital.
[…]
With this in mind, Ruslan said sotnyi members were heading east.
"They're going to Donetsk, Kharkiv, Lugansk - regions where there's lots still to be done," he said.
[…]
"We're seeing hundreds of volunteers every day. We're now sending some out east, to Kharkiv and elsewhere," said Lyubomir, a 58-year-old veteran of the Soviet army who said he served in the Caucasus.
Young recruits in assorted military garb traipsed past him, flashing their improvised security passes.
Some on the Maidan, however, fear the expansion east may be seen as an act of aggression, resented by easterners who look to old connections with Russia rather than Europe as a guarantee of stability.
[…]
The sotnyi say they are needed to protect Ukraine's people and institutions of power during a time of political flux, at least until a new president is elected on May 25.
But it now appears their ambitions extend far beyond Kiev, into Yanukovich's eastern heartland, a collection of mainly Russian-speaking regions that are uneasy with events in the capital.
[…]
With this in mind, Ruslan said sotnyi members were heading east.
"They're going to Donetsk, Kharkiv, Lugansk - regions where there's lots still to be done," he said.
[…]
"We're seeing hundreds of volunteers every day. We're now sending some out east, to Kharkiv and elsewhere," said Lyubomir, a 58-year-old veteran of the Soviet army who said he served in the Caucasus.
Young recruits in assorted military garb traipsed past him, flashing their improvised security passes.
Some on the Maidan, however, fear the expansion east may be seen as an act of aggression, resented by easterners who look to old connections with Russia rather than Europe as a guarantee of stability.
12:46
24.2.2014
Via Reuters, Interfax:
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev says the legitimacy of the current authorities in Ukraine is in doubt, saying the recognition of them by some states is an "aberration."
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev says the legitimacy of the current authorities in Ukraine is in doubt, saying the recognition of them by some states is an "aberration."