11:18
1.5.2014
From our newsroom:
The Kremlin press service on May 1 reported that German Chancellor Angela Merkel has asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to help free a team of OSCE observers that had been captured in eastern Ukraine.
The Kremlin said following phone talks between the two leaders, "Angela Merkel made a request to help facilitate the release of military observers from a number of European countries including Germany."
It added, "Both sides noted the importance of utilizing the mediating potential of the OSCE across Ukraine to the maximum degree."
Pro-Russian separatists who have been holding the group of OSCE observers since April 25 have said the captives are "NATO spies."
One of the eight original captives was released for medical reasons.
Earlier on May 1, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called for OSCE-sponsored talks between Kyiv and pro-Russian separatists in southeastern Ukraine.
The Kremlin said following phone talks between the two leaders, "Angela Merkel made a request to help facilitate the release of military observers from a number of European countries including Germany."
It added, "Both sides noted the importance of utilizing the mediating potential of the OSCE across Ukraine to the maximum degree."
Pro-Russian separatists who have been holding the group of OSCE observers since April 25 have said the captives are "NATO spies."
One of the eight original captives was released for medical reasons.
Earlier on May 1, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called for OSCE-sponsored talks between Kyiv and pro-Russian separatists in southeastern Ukraine.
11:14
1.5.2014
The pro-separatist crowd in Kharkiv is growing, apparently.
11:12
1.5.2014
11:10
1.5.2014
It's a very different story in Donetsk, however.
11:09
1.5.2014
Our Ukrainian Service is livestreaming its coverage of what looks to be a sparsely attended pro-Russian rally in Kharkiv on its homepage.
11:06
1.5.2014
Here is video of a moving speech by Maidan activist and pop star Ruslana Lyzhychko as she accepted the Atlantic Council's Distinguished Humanitarian Leadership award last night in Washington. "It's not for myself, but for all the people of Ukraine -- those who are still free," she said, offering an impassioned appeal to the United States and the international community to "stop Putin's aggression."
"A fixture of the Euromaidan during Ukrainian protests, Ruslana -- who originally gained fame as winner of the Eurovision song contest -- has been dedicated to advancing democracy and human rights in her country and beyond," the council said.
Ruslana concluded with a Ukrainian-English rendition of the Ukrainian national anthem.
"A fixture of the Euromaidan during Ukrainian protests, Ruslana -- who originally gained fame as winner of the Eurovision song contest -- has been dedicated to advancing democracy and human rights in her country and beyond," the council said.
Ruslana concluded with a Ukrainian-English rendition of the Ukrainian national anthem.
10:47
1.5.2014
10:45
1.5.2014
10:44
1.5.2014
10:43
1.5.2014