12:38
17.3.2014
Watch a Russian state television anchor -- Dmitry Kiselyov, who we profiled here -- describe Russia as "the only country in the world that is realistically capable of turning the United States into radioactive ash."
12:11
17.3.2014
More on the comparisons between the Crimean referendum and September's vote in Scotland on whether to split from the UK.
As we've noted here, Russian officials and media have accused the West of double standards, essentially asking: "Why is Scotland's independence vote fine, but Crimea's is not?"
Britain's Foreign Office just sent this little factbox aimed at answering that question.
As we've noted here, Russian officials and media have accused the West of double standards, essentially asking: "Why is Scotland's independence vote fine, but Crimea's is not?"
Britain's Foreign Office just sent this little factbox aimed at answering that question.
11:54
17.3.2014
Today's decision to introduce the ruble as an "official currency" in Crimea was announced on the website of the peninsula's parliament, the Supreme Council -- the same body that the Verkhovna Rada voted to dissolve in a special session in Kyiv on March 15. Today's announcement says the hryvnya will be an official currency alongside the ruble until January 1, 2016.
Both currencies have taken a severe knock this year, one aspect of the economic fallout of the crisis over Crimea. The hryvnya has dropped nearly 15 percent while the ruble has been hovering near record lows.
Both currencies have taken a severe knock this year, one aspect of the economic fallout of the crisis over Crimea. The hryvnya has dropped nearly 15 percent while the ruble has been hovering near record lows.
11:31
17.3.2014
Crimean parliament makes Russian ruble official currency. Will act alongside hryvnia until early 2016. http://t.co/erQHSWFtc7
— Paul Sonne (@PaulSonne) March 17, 2014
11:29
17.3.2014
Ukrainian security officials assure RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service in a livestream program that police will be able to stabilize the situation in the eastern and southern parts of the country.
Як правоохоронці зможуть стабілізувати ситуацію на Сході та Півдні України, говоримо зараз тут:http://t.co/9G3uahrC9x pic.twitter.com/nYXAS3N917
— Радіо Свобода (@radiosvoboda) March 17, 2014
11:28
17.3.2014
should be 10 individuals from #Russia & 8 individuals from #Crimea on the EU sanction list to be adopted today
— Rikard Jozwiak (@RikardJozwiak) March 17, 2014
11:25
17.3.2014
Following on the announcement by Crimean authorities that they would switch to Moscow's time zone at the end of this month.
I wonder how Dmitry Medvedev feels about the decision by Crimean authorities to adjust the times zones.
— Glenn Kates (@gkates) March 17, 2014
11:11
17.3.2014
Apart from restrictions on individuals today we are discussing readiness for further measures against Russia if there is no de-escalation.
— Carl Bildt (@carlbildt) March 17, 2014
11:02
17.3.2014
Putin will reportedly address a joint session of the Russian parliament on Crimea on March 18 at 3:00 p.m. Moscow time. That according to Duma deputy speaker Ivan Melnikov and Garry Minkh, the Kremlin's representative in the State Duma
10:48
17.3.2014
As EU leaders meet to discuss slapping sanctions on Russia over Crimea, the "EU Observer" carries an interesting piece noting the extent of EU arms sales to Russia. It's not just France's $1.4 billion sale of two Mistral warships to Russia.
A sample:
A sample:
The Mistral, as it turned out, was also - figuratively speaking - an ice-breaker.
Other projects and deals followed, such as joint Franco-Russian development of a new generation of Infantry Fighting Vehicles. Thales, a French electronics and defence technology giant, is also helping to equip the Russian armed forces with thermal-vision, or night-operations, capability.
As recently as last month, Dmitri Rogozin, Russia’s first deputy prime minister in charge of the defence industry, declared a new era of Franco-Russian military co-operation, involving joined competences and deeper exchange of information.
Germany is also expanding its military exports to Russia.
Its Federal Security Council, headed by the Chancellor, has made a habit of dolling out export permits left and right to sending German-made military equipment to countries which have dubious human rights records and which could potentially misuse the materials to suppress domestic dissent or to stir up regional conflicts.
Russia is among them - getting up to 500 export permits in 2011 alone, according to the Military Equipment Export Report.
Other projects and deals followed, such as joint Franco-Russian development of a new generation of Infantry Fighting Vehicles. Thales, a French electronics and defence technology giant, is also helping to equip the Russian armed forces with thermal-vision, or night-operations, capability.
As recently as last month, Dmitri Rogozin, Russia’s first deputy prime minister in charge of the defence industry, declared a new era of Franco-Russian military co-operation, involving joined competences and deeper exchange of information.
Germany is also expanding its military exports to Russia.
Its Federal Security Council, headed by the Chancellor, has made a habit of dolling out export permits left and right to sending German-made military equipment to countries which have dubious human rights records and which could potentially misuse the materials to suppress domestic dissent or to stir up regional conflicts.
Russia is among them - getting up to 500 export permits in 2011 alone, according to the Military Equipment Export Report.