18:06
26.4.2014
From RFE/RL's News Desk:
The leader of pro-Russian separatists in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slaviansk says his group is ready to exchange international observers they are holding for fellow rebels who are in the custody of Ukrainian authorities in Kyiv.
Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, de facto mayor of Slaviansk, told reporters on April 26 that the detained members of an OSCE observer mission were spies and were “in all right condition.”
Ponomaryov said one of the soldiers suffers from diabetes, “but it is not a serious condition. He is on tablets."
Ponomaryov also denied claims by Moscow that Russian authorities have been in contact with him to discuss the release of the observers.
Denis Pushilin, leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk Republic, said on April 26 that he will go ahead with an independence referendum for his separatist region on May 11 despite doubts over the logistics and legitimacy of such a vote.
The leader of pro-Russian separatists in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slaviansk says his group is ready to exchange international observers they are holding for fellow rebels who are in the custody of Ukrainian authorities in Kyiv.
Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, de facto mayor of Slaviansk, told reporters on April 26 that the detained members of an OSCE observer mission were spies and were “in all right condition.”
Ponomaryov said one of the soldiers suffers from diabetes, “but it is not a serious condition. He is on tablets."
Ponomaryov also denied claims by Moscow that Russian authorities have been in contact with him to discuss the release of the observers.
Denis Pushilin, leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk Republic, said on April 26 that he will go ahead with an independence referendum for his separatist region on May 11 despite doubts over the logistics and legitimacy of such a vote.
18:05
26.4.2014
This just came over the Reuters wire:
(URGENT):Russia offered support in effort to free OSCE monitors - Germany
BERLIN, April 26 (Reuters) - German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Saturday welcomed an offer of support from his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, to help efforts to free Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) monitors held in eastern Ukraine.
Steinmeier told reporters that Lavrov had offered his backing during a telephone call earlier in the day.
"I very much welcome the fact that all three promised their help," said Steinmeier, adding he had spoken to Lavrov, Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk and Switzerland's Didier Burkhalter, who currently chairs the OSCE.
Steinmeier said he had sought help from all three.
BERLIN, April 26 (Reuters) - German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Saturday welcomed an offer of support from his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, to help efforts to free Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) monitors held in eastern Ukraine.
Steinmeier told reporters that Lavrov had offered his backing during a telephone call earlier in the day.
"I very much welcome the fact that all three promised their help," said Steinmeier, adding he had spoken to Lavrov, Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk and Switzerland's Didier Burkhalter, who currently chairs the OSCE.
Steinmeier said he had sought help from all three.
18:03
26.4.2014
18:02
26.4.2014
The use of armed forces by the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine under the guise of peacekeepers will be regarded by Ukraine as military aggression and such actions will be rebuffed, acting Minister of Defense Mykhailo Koval has said.
17:52
26.4.2014
From CBC correspondent Nahlah Ayed:
17:49
26.4.2014
A flury of new news alerts from Reuters:
- LAVROV CALLS UPON UNITED STATES TO USE ITS INFLUENCE TO SECURE RELEASE OF LEADERS OF "PROTEST MOVEMENT" IN SOUTHEASTERN UKRAINE
- RUSSIA'S LAVROV TELLS U.S. SEC'Y OF STATE KERRY UKRAINE SHOULD STOP ITS MILITARY OPERATION IN SOUTHEAST OF COUNTRY - RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY
- GERMAN FOR MINISTER SAYS RUSSIA'S LAVROV OFFERED SUPPORT IN EFFORTS TO RELEASE INT'L MONITORS HELD IN EASTERN UKRAINE
- LAVROV CALLS UPON UNITED STATES TO USE ITS INFLUENCE TO SECURE RELEASE OF LEADERS OF "PROTEST MOVEMENT" IN SOUTHEASTERN UKRAINE
- RUSSIA'S LAVROV TELLS U.S. SEC'Y OF STATE KERRY UKRAINE SHOULD STOP ITS MILITARY OPERATION IN SOUTHEAST OF COUNTRY - RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY
- GERMAN FOR MINISTER SAYS RUSSIA'S LAVROV OFFERED SUPPORT IN EFFORTS TO RELEASE INT'L MONITORS HELD IN EASTERN UKRAINE
17:46
26.4.2014
More on today's Papal diplomacy from AFP:
Pope Francis told Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk on Saturday that he would "do everything possible" for the country, amid fears that Russia could be about to invade.
Yatsenyuk said he asked Francis "to pray for Ukraine and for stability in Europe" and told him he was grateful for the support.
He said the Vatican had already averted wars during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 and the Argentina-Chile territorial dispute in 1978.
The Vatican said in a statement that Francis and Yatsenyuk had discussed the "specific role" that religious organisations could play "in fostering mutual respect and harmony".
"Mention was made of possible further initiatives by the international community in this regard," the statement said.
Yatsenyuk's spokeswoman said the premier was cutting short his trip to Rome and will miss the canonisation of John Paul II and John XXIII, as tensions mount in the eastern part of the ex-Soviet country and Western nations threaten sanctions.
Yatsenyuk spent 18 minutes behind closed doors with the pope, who had urged the international community to "prevent violence" in Ukraine in his Easter Sunday message.
At an exchange of gifts, Yatsenyuk presented Francis with a photograph of Maidan square in Kiev on New Year's night.
"This is where Ukrainians fought for their freedom and rights. Millions of people," he said.
The pope in return offered the Ukraine leader a pen, saying "I hope this pen will sign the peace", to which Yatsenyuk replied "I hope so."
Yatsenyuk said he asked Francis "to pray for Ukraine and for stability in Europe" and told him he was grateful for the support.
He said the Vatican had already averted wars during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 and the Argentina-Chile territorial dispute in 1978.
The Vatican said in a statement that Francis and Yatsenyuk had discussed the "specific role" that religious organisations could play "in fostering mutual respect and harmony".
"Mention was made of possible further initiatives by the international community in this regard," the statement said.
Yatsenyuk's spokeswoman said the premier was cutting short his trip to Rome and will miss the canonisation of John Paul II and John XXIII, as tensions mount in the eastern part of the ex-Soviet country and Western nations threaten sanctions.
Yatsenyuk spent 18 minutes behind closed doors with the pope, who had urged the international community to "prevent violence" in Ukraine in his Easter Sunday message.
At an exchange of gifts, Yatsenyuk presented Francis with a photograph of Maidan square in Kiev on New Year's night.
"This is where Ukrainians fought for their freedom and rights. Millions of people," he said.
The pope in return offered the Ukraine leader a pen, saying "I hope this pen will sign the peace", to which Yatsenyuk replied "I hope so."
17:45
26.4.2014
In an interview with AP, Yulia Tymoshenko called for NATO membership for Ukraine:
AP Interview: Tymoshenko calls for NATO membership
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko says Ukraine "must be a member of NATO" in order to protect itself from Russian aggression.
Tymoshenko, who is running in the May 25 presidential election, told The Associated Press in an interview that while only a minority of Ukrainians supported NATO membership previously, Russia's aggressive actions in the country's east had forced a "fundamental change" in public thinking.
She says "with his war against us, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin was able to change the mentality of Ukrainians and turn us in a different strategic direction. NATO is the best choice for Ukraine."
While Tymoshenko hadn't previously backed NATO membership publicly, she and other Ukrainian politicians have ramped up the tough rhetoric as pro-Russia militias seized police stations and government buildings across eastern Ukraine.
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko says Ukraine "must be a member of NATO" in order to protect itself from Russian aggression.
Tymoshenko, who is running in the May 25 presidential election, told The Associated Press in an interview that while only a minority of Ukrainians supported NATO membership previously, Russia's aggressive actions in the country's east had forced a "fundamental change" in public thinking.
She says "with his war against us, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin was able to change the mentality of Ukrainians and turn us in a different strategic direction. NATO is the best choice for Ukraine."
While Tymoshenko hadn't previously backed NATO membership publicly, she and other Ukrainian politicians have ramped up the tough rhetoric as pro-Russia militias seized police stations and government buildings across eastern Ukraine.
17:43
26.4.2014
Here's the latest wrap from Reuters on comments by Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, the self-proclaimed "mayor" of Slovyansk at today's presser:
(URGENT) Ukraine rebels holding observers say prisoner swap possible
SLAVIANSK, Ukraine, April 26 (Reuters) - Separatists in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slaviansk are ready to exchange a group of international observers they are holding for fellow rebels who are in the custody of the Ukrainian authorities, their leader said on Saturday.
Asked about a prisoner exchange, Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, de facto mayor of Slaviansk, told reporters: "The Kiev junta has our fellows and comrades therefore, if there is a possibility, we are ready for an exchange."
"They (members of the observer mission) are in alright condition. One of the soldiers suffers from diabetes, but it is not a serious condition, he is on tablets. There is medicine there is food," said Ponomaryov.
"They were soldiers on our territory without our permission, of course they are prisoners," he said. "We won't know what to do until we determine who they are, what kind of activities, for what purpose they came here."
He said the Russian government had not been in contact with him to discuss the observers' release.
SLAVIANSK, Ukraine, April 26 (Reuters) - Separatists in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slaviansk are ready to exchange a group of international observers they are holding for fellow rebels who are in the custody of the Ukrainian authorities, their leader said on Saturday.
Asked about a prisoner exchange, Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, de facto mayor of Slaviansk, told reporters: "The Kiev junta has our fellows and comrades therefore, if there is a possibility, we are ready for an exchange."
"They (members of the observer mission) are in alright condition. One of the soldiers suffers from diabetes, but it is not a serious condition, he is on tablets. There is medicine there is food," said Ponomaryov.
"They were soldiers on our territory without our permission, of course they are prisoners," he said. "We won't know what to do until we determine who they are, what kind of activities, for what purpose they came here."
He said the Russian government had not been in contact with him to discuss the observers' release.
17:39
26.4.2014