11:18
6.3.2014
We were wondering the other day where was Femen,
Two Femen arrive topless, screaming "Stop Putin's war". Assaulted by grannies, dragged off by Cossacks in police van pic.twitter.com/9h7CDCLbUY
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) March 6, 2014
12:33
6.3.2014
The parliament in Ukraine's Crimea region has voted to join Russia, as EU leaders began discussing a response to the occupation of Crimea by Russian forces.
Russian Community of Crimea leader Serhiy Tsekov spoke today to journalists outside the Crimean parliament building in Simferopol:
"This means we have reunited with our motherland, which we have been a part of for so long. We have reunited with the Russian Federation. I am sure that most Crimean residents will be happy about it and will applaud it. And I am sure that the majority of Crimean residents will support our decision at the referendum."
"We decided not to follow the independence path. We state clearly that we support the revival of unity between Russia and Crimea. We are for the autonomous republic of Crimea to join Russia as a subject of Russia."
Russian Community of Crimea leader Serhiy Tsekov spoke today to journalists outside the Crimean parliament building in Simferopol:
"This means we have reunited with our motherland, which we have been a part of for so long. We have reunited with the Russian Federation. I am sure that most Crimean residents will be happy about it and will applaud it. And I am sure that the majority of Crimean residents will support our decision at the referendum."
"We decided not to follow the independence path. We state clearly that we support the revival of unity between Russia and Crimea. We are for the autonomous republic of Crimea to join Russia as a subject of Russia."
12:42
6.3.2014
Some regional reaction from Central Asia, via our Uzbek Service.
Ukraine's ambassador to Uzbekistan has characterized the presence of Russian forces in Crimea as aggression by Moscow.
Speaking to RFE/RL on Thursday, Yuriy Savchenko said that he has disavowed the rule of Ukraine's ousted President Viktor Yanukovych.
He said Ukraine must solve its internal issues itself, without outside interference. He also expressed concern over "disinformation" being spread by the Russian media, adding that antigovernment protests in Kyiv were not imported from the West but were entirely the internal will of the Ukrainian people.
Savchenko said he appreciates the position of the Uzbek Foreign Ministry, which has said it supports Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and that the crisis must be resolved within international law and UN charters.
14:00
6.3.2014
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yatsenyuk tells a press conference that the Crimea parliament's vote to join Russia has no legal grounds.
"This is [an] illegitimate decision and this so-called referendum has no legal grounds at all. That is the reason why we urge the Russian government not to support those who claim separatism in Ukraine. Crimea was, is, and will be an integral part of Ukraine."
"This is [an] illegitimate decision and this so-called referendum has no legal grounds at all. That is the reason why we urge the Russian government not to support those who claim separatism in Ukraine. Crimea was, is, and will be an integral part of Ukraine."
14:05
6.3.2014
Yatsenyuk tells press conference that he is going next to NATO to discuss "stronger partnership" with Ukraine.
"We don't want to have a frozen or hot conflict. Ukraine is to be one, united country."
He adds that under the Budapest Memorandum the signatories guaranteed integrity, independence, sovereignty.
It's "not just a local conflict. Conflict will have negative impact on the nuclear nonproliferation regime. It will be quite difficult to persuade Iran [or] North Korea to give up weapons if guarantees are not enforced."
14:06
6.3.2014
"We have been provoked a number of times to use force," Prime Minister Yatsenyuk says. "We refrained. We still believe in peaceful resolution."
He adds: "But in case of further escalation and military intervention into Ukrainian territory by foreign forces, the Ukrainian government and military will act in accordance with Ukrainian laws. We are ready to protect our country."
He adds: "But in case of further escalation and military intervention into Ukrainian territory by foreign forces, the Ukrainian government and military will act in accordance with Ukrainian laws. We are ready to protect our country."
14:15
6.3.2014
Prime Minister Yatsenyuk says that "this government was supported by an overwhelming constitutional majority of 371 votes." He says the entire opposition supported the government and its program, and that it was supported by the Verkhovna Rada and the Ukrainian people.
He describes Russia as "not friendly, as you probably realized," adding, "And where is the limit?"
"Are we going crazy?" Yatsenyuk asks. "Is it acceptable that in the 21st century, with no legal grounds, one country" decides "to invade another?"
"Are we going crazy?" Yatsenyuk asks. "Is it acceptable that in the 21st century, with no legal grounds, one country" decides "to invade another?"
14:16
6.3.2014
Yatsenyuk says he talked to Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev a few days ago and told him to "step back."
"'Guys, just stop,'" he reports having told Medvedev, "'we are entering a mess and you, Russians, will be responsible for this."
"'Guys, just stop,'" he reports having told Medvedev, "'we are entering a mess and you, Russians, will be responsible for this."
"We are not an anti-Russian government," Yatsenyuk says. "We are pro-Ukrainian."
"We will stick to our values -- territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence."
"We will stick to our values -- territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence."
14:18
6.3.2014
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yatsenyuk says Russia's actions in Crimea are "military aggression...extensive, unacceptable use of Russian military force."
"We commend the way the Ukrainian military has handled the crisis in Crimea."
"We commend the way the Ukrainian military has handled the crisis in Crimea."