12:47
22.4.2014
12:22
22.4.2014
12:04
22.4.2014
Here's our news desk's short precis of Biden's speech in Kyiv today:
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has vowed support for Ukraine, which he said "is in a struggle for its very future."
Biden said the road ahead is difficult, but that Ukrainians "will not walk this road alone."
He was speaking on April 22 after talks in Kyiv with Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk.
Biden said "there are some who are trying to pull Ukraine apart," but he said Ukraine is and must remain one united country.
He also said it is time for Russia to fulfill its commitments to last week's Geneva agreement to end the crisis in eastern Ukraine.
"We will not allow this to become an open-ended process," he said.
For his part, Yatsenyuk said Ukraine's presidential election must go ahead next month. He said the country needs a legitimately elected president, a scenario which he said Russia does not want.
Biden said the road ahead is difficult, but that Ukrainians "will not walk this road alone."
He was speaking on April 22 after talks in Kyiv with Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk.
Biden said "there are some who are trying to pull Ukraine apart," but he said Ukraine is and must remain one united country.
He also said it is time for Russia to fulfill its commitments to last week's Geneva agreement to end the crisis in eastern Ukraine.
"We will not allow this to become an open-ended process," he said.
For his part, Yatsenyuk said Ukraine's presidential election must go ahead next month. He said the country needs a legitimately elected president, a scenario which he said Russia does not want.
12:02
22.4.2014
Meanwhile, in Moscow, Dmitry Medvedev has been talking about gas supplies to Ukraine:
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has told lawmakers that Russia will shift to a system of prepayment for gas supplies if Ukraine's debt remains unresolved.
Addressing Russia's State Duma, the lower house of parliament, on April 22, Medvedev said a prepayment system would be a "harsh but fair decision."
He also dismissed talk that supplies of gas from the United States could reduce Europe's reliance on Russian gas imports, calling such a suggestion a "bluff."
Medvedev also said continuing problems facing the global economy will impact Russia, adding that the "diplomatic climate" and domestic structural issues are also likely to have a negative effect.
Medvedev said the government is working to "minimize" the effects of international sanctions being imposed on the country since Russia annexed Crimea last month and pledged that "all social obligations will be fulfilled." (RFE/RL's news desk)
Addressing Russia's State Duma, the lower house of parliament, on April 22, Medvedev said a prepayment system would be a "harsh but fair decision."
He also dismissed talk that supplies of gas from the United States could reduce Europe's reliance on Russian gas imports, calling such a suggestion a "bluff."
Medvedev also said continuing problems facing the global economy will impact Russia, adding that the "diplomatic climate" and domestic structural issues are also likely to have a negative effect.
Medvedev said the government is working to "minimize" the effects of international sanctions being imposed on the country since Russia annexed Crimea last month and pledged that "all social obligations will be fulfilled." (RFE/RL's news desk)
11:42
22.4.2014
"The Moscow Times" has an interesting report on how an Internet meme based on Crimea's "little green men" has now resulted in a patent battle. Read more here.
11:32
22.4.2014
11:28
22.4.2014
Our multimedia department has just issued a video of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's adress in Kyiv today:
11:22
22.4.2014
Biden's speech was followed by an address from Yatsenyuk, who had this to say (from RFE/RL's news desk):
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, speaking alongside visiting U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, said Ukraine's presidential election needs to go ahead next month as scheduled. He said the country needs a legitimately elected president, a scenario which he claimed Russia does not want.
10:54
22.4.2014
More from Biden's address in Kyiv:
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said Washington is working "to support all Ukrainians in seeking a better future."
He said the road ahead is difficult, but that "you will not walk this road alone. We will walk it with you."
Biden added that Ukraine is and must remain "one united" country. He said "no nation has the right to simply grab land from another nation."
He stressed that Washington will never recognize Russia's "illegal occupation of Crimea and neither will the world." He also warned that no nation should stoke instability in its neighborhood.
Biden said it is time for Russia to fulfill its commitments to the Geneva agreement. "We will not allow this to become an open-ended process," he said. "Time is short."
He suggested that now is a "chance to make good on the aspirations of the overwhelming majority of Ukrainians east and west" -- for a Ukraine that empowers local governance and that respects and protects different linguistic traditions but that holds together as a single state -- "united and sovereign."
He also said he believes all Ukrainians are "sick and tired" of the country's corruption.
BIden gave assurances that Washington will help Ukraine reduce its energy dependence.
He indicated that the United States is also providing nonlethal support to Ukraine's security services, including communication gear, bomb disposal technology, and transportation and engineering equipment totaling nearly $20 million.
(RFE/RL's news desk -- more to follow...)
He said the road ahead is difficult, but that "you will not walk this road alone. We will walk it with you."
Biden added that Ukraine is and must remain "one united" country. He said "no nation has the right to simply grab land from another nation."
He stressed that Washington will never recognize Russia's "illegal occupation of Crimea and neither will the world." He also warned that no nation should stoke instability in its neighborhood.
Biden said it is time for Russia to fulfill its commitments to the Geneva agreement. "We will not allow this to become an open-ended process," he said. "Time is short."
He suggested that now is a "chance to make good on the aspirations of the overwhelming majority of Ukrainians east and west" -- for a Ukraine that empowers local governance and that respects and protects different linguistic traditions but that holds together as a single state -- "united and sovereign."
He also said he believes all Ukrainians are "sick and tired" of the country's corruption.
BIden gave assurances that Washington will help Ukraine reduce its energy dependence.
He indicated that the United States is also providing nonlethal support to Ukraine's security services, including communication gear, bomb disposal technology, and transportation and engineering equipment totaling nearly $20 million.
(RFE/RL's news desk -- more to follow...)
10:47
22.4.2014
Joe Biden is making a public address in Kyiv. Here's what he's said thus far (from our news desk):
Speaking in Kyiv, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has said that "today there are some who are trying to pull Ukraine apart."
He also said Ukraine is "in a struggle for its very future."
He added that Washington does not recognize Russia's actions in Crimea.
Biden made his remarks after talks with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, whom he congratulated for his "incredible leadership under difficult circumstances."
More to follow...
Speaking in Kyiv, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has said that "today there are some who are trying to pull Ukraine apart."
He also said Ukraine is "in a struggle for its very future."
He added that Washington does not recognize Russia's actions in Crimea.
Biden made his remarks after talks with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, whom he congratulated for his "incredible leadership under difficult circumstances."
More to follow...