11:18
13.3.2014
According to a new Levada poll, a majority of Russians support their government's actions in Crimea.
11:09
13.3.2014
Meanwhile, there has been an uptick in Russian President Vladimir Putin's approval ratings at home:
Россия голосует за войну с Украиной,рейтинг Путина растет. А украинские политики продолжают интриговать друг с другом pic.twitter.com/Hi8Cfpe22v
— Павел Шеремет (@pavelsheremet) March 13, 2014
11:04
13.3.2014
RFE/RL's newsdesk has just issued this brief item:
John McCain is leading a group of eight U.S. senators to Kyiv this weekend to show American support for Ukraine's new authorities in the standoff with Russia.
The senators -- five from the Republican Party and three Democrats -- are expected to leave Washington today.
McCain, known for his harsh criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, last visited Kyiv in December and addressed protesters in Independence Square.
Yesterday, the U.S. Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee approved a measure that would provide more than $1 billion in aid and loan guarantees to Ukraine’s new government and impose sanctions on Russians and Ukrainians held responsible for violence or human rights violations during the recent protests.
The bill must still be passed by the full Senate and House of Representatives. (Reuters, washingtonpost.com, wsj.com)
John McCain is leading a group of eight U.S. senators to Kyiv this weekend to show American support for Ukraine's new authorities in the standoff with Russia.
The senators -- five from the Republican Party and three Democrats -- are expected to leave Washington today.
McCain, known for his harsh criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, last visited Kyiv in December and addressed protesters in Independence Square.
Yesterday, the U.S. Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee approved a measure that would provide more than $1 billion in aid and loan guarantees to Ukraine’s new government and impose sanctions on Russians and Ukrainians held responsible for violence or human rights violations during the recent protests.
The bill must still be passed by the full Senate and House of Representatives. (Reuters, washingtonpost.com, wsj.com)
11:02
13.3.2014
10:42
13.3.2014
Revolutionaries in Kiev never once looted a bank branch or ATM. Today Crimea's leader seizes all of them. #Ukraine http://t.co/8GYyDBlCSC
— Simon Shuster (@shustry) March 13, 2014
10:41
13.3.2014
Here are some more details from our newsdesk regarding Angela Merkel's latest comments on Ukraine:
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned Russia that it risks "massive" political and economic damage over its actions in Crimea.
Merkel told German lawmakers today that, "if Russia continues on its course of the past weeks, it will not only be a catastrophe for Ukraine" but would change the EU's relationship with Russia.
Crimea is occupied by Russian forces and a referendum planned for March 16 could see the peninsula annexed by Russia.
Merkel said Ukraine's territorial integrity is "not up for discussion" and that Russia's deployment of troops to Crimea is a clear breach of international law.
She said the EU is prepared to impose sanctions if Russia refuses to begin "negotiations that achieve results." (AP, Reuters, dpa)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned Russia that it risks "massive" political and economic damage over its actions in Crimea.
Merkel told German lawmakers today that, "if Russia continues on its course of the past weeks, it will not only be a catastrophe for Ukraine" but would change the EU's relationship with Russia.
Crimea is occupied by Russian forces and a referendum planned for March 16 could see the peninsula annexed by Russia.
Merkel said Ukraine's territorial integrity is "not up for discussion" and that Russia's deployment of troops to Crimea is a clear breach of international law.
She said the EU is prepared to impose sanctions if Russia refuses to begin "negotiations that achieve results." (AP, Reuters, dpa)
10:35
13.3.2014
Withdrawals limited to $33 MT @ChristopherJM Commercial banks in Crimea to be nationalized http://t.co/Jr7TcMEXfq pic.twitter.com/mHr4r6Dj3h
— max seddon (@maxseddon) March 13, 2014
09:30
13.3.2014
Meanwhile the Reuters news agency is quoting German Chancellor Angela Merkel as telling the Bundestag that Russia has exploited the weakness of Ukraine instead of acting as a partner for stability. She says "the territorial integrity of Ukraine cannot be called into question."
09:20
13.3.2014
This just in from RFE/RL's newsdesk:
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk is due to address the UN Security Council on the crisis in Crimea today (8 p.m. CET), one day after receiving a strong show of support for Kyiv's new government from U.S. President Barack Obama.
Yatsenyuk is expected to reiterate to the Security Council that a referendum scheduled for March 16 in Crimea on the peninsula joining Russia is illegal under the country's constitution. He is also expected to reassert Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Yatsenyuk has warned that the Crimea crisis has implications beyond Ukraine, calling it a "global problem."
Meanwhile, Ukraine's parliament is meeting in Kyiv today to discuss a call from acting President Oleksandr Turchynov to create a 20,000-strong National Guard and for the mobilization of reserves and volunteers into the country's armed forces. (AFP, AP, and Reuters)
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk is due to address the UN Security Council on the crisis in Crimea today (8 p.m. CET), one day after receiving a strong show of support for Kyiv's new government from U.S. President Barack Obama.
Yatsenyuk is expected to reiterate to the Security Council that a referendum scheduled for March 16 in Crimea on the peninsula joining Russia is illegal under the country's constitution. He is also expected to reassert Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Yatsenyuk has warned that the Crimea crisis has implications beyond Ukraine, calling it a "global problem."
Meanwhile, Ukraine's parliament is meeting in Kyiv today to discuss a call from acting President Oleksandr Turchynov to create a 20,000-strong National Guard and for the mobilization of reserves and volunteers into the country's armed forces. (AFP, AP, and Reuters)