10:28
27.3.2014
"I spent three and half days in a single cell. We were fed, interacted with politely, asked provocative questions and gave provocative answers." -- Ukrainian Colonel Yuliy Mamchur, who is quickly becoming a hero among Ukrainians for his resistance to Russian forces, speaking to Reuters near the Ukraine-Crimea border after his release by pro-Russian forces on March 26
10:38
27.3.2014
Ukraine is seeking at the UN General Assembly the demilitarization of Crimea, according to Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Lubkivskyy as quoted by our Ukrainian Service.
10:42
27.3.2014
Switzerland has frozen its military cooperation with Russia, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reports, saying its annexation of Crimea contravenes the Helsinki Accords, international law, and the principle of territorial integrity of states. Russia has "violated its obligations under a number of bilateral and multilateral agreements," the statement by the Swiss government executive, the Federal Council.
10:44
27.3.2014
Sweden's foreign minister takes up the #unitedforukraine banner:
10:55
27.3.2014
Very ambitious chronicle of Jews and anti-Semitism in Ukraine by David Frum in "The Atlantic" titled "Ukraine's Phantom Neo-Nazi Menace" and subtitled "The country's Jews have faced unspeakable horrors. But Vladimir Putin isn't their savior."
It begins:
It begins:
“When was the last time you personally experienced anti-Semitism?” I asked the executive director of the organized Jewish community for the city of Kiev. He gave me a puzzled look. “You mean, called me a Zhid or something like that?” “Anything.” He thought for a moment. “Back in Soviet times.”
I put the same question to a roomful of senior citizens in one of the country’s 32 Jewish social-service centers. The group, which was mostly women, laughed out loud. They faced plenty of problems: the standard old-age pension in Ukraine is only about $100 a month, pitifully little even in this poor country. But the Russian claim that gangs of neo-Nazis are roaming Ukraine, threatening its Jewish population, evoked unanimous scorn from every Jewish person I talked to in the country.
I put the same question to a roomful of senior citizens in one of the country’s 32 Jewish social-service centers. The group, which was mostly women, laughed out loud. They faced plenty of problems: the standard old-age pension in Ukraine is only about $100 a month, pitifully little even in this poor country. But the Russian claim that gangs of neo-Nazis are roaming Ukraine, threatening its Jewish population, evoked unanimous scorn from every Jewish person I talked to in the country.
11:09
27.3.2014
The White House has released a press statement welcoming the IMF's tentative agreement on new assistance to Ukraine as a "powerful sign of support." From the statement:
The United States welcomes the preliminary agreement between the Government of Ukraine and International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff on a loan program of $14-18 billion. This represents a powerful sign of support from the international community for the Ukrainian government, as we help them stabilize and grow their economy, and move their democracy forward. The agreement is expected to unlock roughly $27 billion in total support from the international community for Ukraine's people over the next two years, as the country implements historic reforms to address long-standing problems that have undermined Ukraine’s economic strength and prosperity. It is important now for both the Government of Ukraine and the IMF to move expeditiously and complete the steps necessary to gain approval from the IMF Executive Board.
Together with our allies and partners, President Obama will continue to build international support for the Ukrainian people at this critical time....
Together with our allies and partners, President Obama will continue to build international support for the Ukrainian people at this critical time....
11:22
27.3.2014
From our newsroom, based on Reuters and AP reports. Our own service adds that Kyiv will also urge the UN General Assembly to recommend the demilitarization of Crimea.
Ukrainian officials say they expect the UN General Assembly to solidly approve a resolution today that affirms Ukraine's territorial integrity and calls illegal the referendum held in Crimea on joining Russia. Ukrainian Ambassador to the UN Yuriy Sergeyev told the AP that the resolution has dozens of co-sponsors and the support of many democratic countries. Russia's UN delegation is campaigning against the resolution. Sergeyev said he has spoken to many UN member states and explained that Russia violated the UN Charter that guarantees the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries. UN General Assembly resolutions are nonbinding but cannot be vetoed -- something Russia did to a similar resolution in the UN Security Council last week. Diplomats say Russia's leverage with many countries means there could be a large number of abstentions when the vote is taken.
11:44
27.3.2014
Hundreds of people participated in the March 26 funeral service for Oleksandr Muzychko, a leading ultranationalist who was killed in a police operation, in the western Ukrainian city of Rivne. (video by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service)
12:06
27.3.2014
Our newsroom story on the IMF's agreement on a major bailout for Ukraine:
Read the full story HERE
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has promised to loan of between $14 billion and $18 billion to cash-strapped Ukraine.
After two weeks of talks in Kyiv, the IMF said in statement on March 27 that it had reached "a staff-level agreement with the authorities of Ukraine on an economic reform program that can be supported by a two-year Stand-By Arrangement with the IMF."
It said the precise amount would be determined "once all bilateral and multilateral support is accounted for."
The loan will help prop up Ukraine's struggling economy, further weakened lately by three months of antigovernment protests and the subsequent annexation of its Crimean Peninsula by Russia.
After two weeks of talks in Kyiv, the IMF said in statement on March 27 that it had reached "a staff-level agreement with the authorities of Ukraine on an economic reform program that can be supported by a two-year Stand-By Arrangement with the IMF."
It said the precise amount would be determined "once all bilateral and multilateral support is accounted for."
The loan will help prop up Ukraine's struggling economy, further weakened lately by three months of antigovernment protests and the subsequent annexation of its Crimean Peninsula by Russia.
Read the full story HERE
12:34
27.3.2014
Breakaway Crimean leader Sergei Aksyonov appears to confirm the Bloomberg report that "creating a gambling zone in Crimea" is "one of the proposals being discussed."