08:22
14.3.2014
In additon to the meeting between John Kerry and Sergei Lavrov, the International Monetary Fund will start talks with the Ukrainian government on an economic reform program. From the agencies:
A team from the IMF is now in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, gathering data about the government's finances.
In a statement, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said the IMF will work with Ukrainian authorities "to develop an economic reform program that will result in sound economic governance and sustainable growth, while protecting the vulnerable in society."
She said the mission should finish its work by March 21. Ukrainian officials have said the country is nearing bankruptcy.
IMF support is widely seen as critical to Kyiv's finances and to getting its economy on a growth track. In related news, Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird has said the country will offer nearly $200 million in aid to Ukraine to help promote sustainable economic growth and good governance.
In a statement, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said the IMF will work with Ukrainian authorities "to develop an economic reform program that will result in sound economic governance and sustainable growth, while protecting the vulnerable in society."
She said the mission should finish its work by March 21. Ukrainian officials have said the country is nearing bankruptcy.
IMF support is widely seen as critical to Kyiv's finances and to getting its economy on a growth track. In related news, Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird has said the country will offer nearly $200 million in aid to Ukraine to help promote sustainable economic growth and good governance.
08:38
14.3.2014
Simon Ostrovsky at Vice News is doing the most amazing, fearless video reporting from Ukraine.
Check out all the dispatches here.
His colleague Robert King was on the streets of Donetsk last night, when a large group of pro-Russian activists attacked a group of pro-Ukrainian demonstrators. One protester was reportedly killed.
Check out all the dispatches here.
His colleague Robert King was on the streets of Donetsk last night, when a large group of pro-Russian activists attacked a group of pro-Ukrainian demonstrators. One protester was reportedly killed.
08:40
14.3.2014
Russia's Foreign Ministry has accused the White House of denying Russian journalists access to a press event in the Oval Office after talks Wednesday between U.S. President Barack Obama and Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk.
The statement -- labeled a "commentary" -- from Foreign Ministry representative Aleksandr Lukashevich said, "It seems that in Washington, where they so love to talk about freedom of speech and the rights of journalists, they are not prepared to follow these principles themselves."
Lukashevich's statement continued, "They do not want to hear questions that do not fit the scenario developed beforehand, for example, about the crimes of neo-Nazis from the 'Right Sector,' that stand behind the 'government' of A. Yatsenyuk, in the White House."
Obama answered only one question posed by a reporter at the press event Wednesday, which was attended by a dozen or so journalists and photographers.
Lukashevich's statement continued, "They do not want to hear questions that do not fit the scenario developed beforehand, for example, about the crimes of neo-Nazis from the 'Right Sector,' that stand behind the 'government' of A. Yatsenyuk, in the White House."
Obama answered only one question posed by a reporter at the press event Wednesday, which was attended by a dozen or so journalists and photographers.
08:41
14.3.2014
No list of #Crimea, #Russia sanctions names yet agreed for foreign mins to sign off on Monday, senior #EU official says. Work continues.
— laurence norman (@laurnorman) March 14, 2014
09:09
14.3.2014
Although the EU has yet to release a formal list of Russians to be targeted by EU sanctions, unofficial lists abound, including this, published by the Information Resistance -- an information alert network made up of Ukrainian military reservists. (IR says it received the list directly from a source in Brussels.)
Officials associated with Crimea operation:
-- Aleksandr Bortnikov, head of the Federal Security Service
-- Sergei Glazyov, presidential advisor
-- Nikolai Patrushev, Security Council head
-- Sergei Shoigu, defense minister
-- Vladislav Surkov, presidential aide
-- Aleksandr Vitko, commander of Russia's Black Sea Fleet
Political figures and colorful extras:
-- Valentina Matvienko, Federation Council head
-- Aleksei Pushkov, head of the State Duma foreign affairs committee
-- Dmitry Rogozin, deputy prime minister
-- Vladimir Zhirinovsky, State Duma member
-- Ramzan Kadyrov, Chechen leader
-- Aleksandr Zaldostanov, head of the Night Wolves bikers
-- Dmitry Kiselyov, general director of the "Russia Today" news agency
Putin's business allies:
-- Aleksei Miller, Gazprom chair
-- Igor Sechin, Rosneft head
-- Vladimir Yakunin, Russian Railways head
09:19
14.3.2014
Andriy Parubiy, the former Euromaidan commandant who now heads Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, says a "plan B" exists in case of open aggression by Russia.
Parubiy offered no details, saying only: "This plan will be elaborated and implemented very quickly. It's not only about evacuation."
Read more here:
09:24
14.3.2014
Two days ahead of separatist referendum, new banners on Kirova Street in Simferopol say: "Russia loves Crimea" pic.twitter.com/aZjiVlIzJU
— David M. Herszenhorn (@herszenhorn) March 14, 2014
09:36
14.3.2014
Ukraine's 1+1 broadcaster has published a message of support for Lenta.ru and other news outlets that have been blocked or otherwise pressured in the past two days.
"We thank you colleagues from Lenta.ru for their objective coverage of the events in Ukraine. We believe that a future in free, developed, democratic countries awaits both you and us."
"We thank you colleagues from Lenta.ru for their objective coverage of the events in Ukraine. We believe that a future in free, developed, democratic countries awaits both you and us."
09:49
14.3.2014
More on the man killed in yesterday's violence in Donetsk:
Dmytro Chernyavskiy, 22, was an activist with the regional branch of the Svoboda nationalist party. He had long served as a party press secretary. His death was announced by the head of Svoboda's Donetsk branch, Ihor Slavhorodskiy.
Chernyavskiy died of knife wounds en route to hospital. A total of 17 people sought medical assistance following the violence.
Dmytro Chernyavskiy, 22, was an activist with the regional branch of the Svoboda nationalist party. He had long served as a party press secretary. His death was announced by the head of Svoboda's Donetsk branch, Ihor Slavhorodskiy.
Chernyavskiy died of knife wounds en route to hospital. A total of 17 people sought medical assistance following the violence.
10:23
14.3.2014
The world, seemingly, will never tire of bare-chested Putin and storks.
Putin leads aerial invasion of #Crimea #Ukraine today. pic.twitter.com/sWljyIiGjU #Putin #Russia #Euromaidan h/t @OracleofWallSt:
— Jeremy Nicholl (@Russian_Photos) March 9, 2014