08:39
9.4.2014
08:42
9.4.2014
Although now, according to ITAR-TASS, the protesters in the building in Luhansk are denying the SBU's claims that they've left.
09:31
9.4.2014
Via our Brussels correspondent Rikard Jozwiak, the European Commission is expected to establish a support group for Ukraine on April 9 to coordinate support from EU member states and financial institutions.
The group will be headed by EU enlargement commissioner Stefan Fuele. Other key members of the EU Commission will also be working in and for the group.
The primary task of the support group will be to work in close coordination with the Ukrainian authorities to stabilize the economy and assist with reforms.
Its work can also be extended to Georgia and Moldova, which still are on course to sign the association agreements with the EU in June.
The EU unveiled an aid program to Ukraine in March, promising at least 11 billion euro in grants and loans in the upcoming years. Work is also underway to host a donors conference in Brussels to further support Kyiv.
The primary task of the support group will be to work in close coordination with the Ukrainian authorities to stabilize the economy and assist with reforms.
Its work can also be extended to Georgia and Moldova, which still are on course to sign the association agreements with the EU in June.
The EU unveiled an aid program to Ukraine in March, promising at least 11 billion euro in grants and loans in the upcoming years. Work is also underway to host a donors conference in Brussels to further support Kyiv.
09:55
9.4.2014
Interesting tweet from Geoffrey Pyatt, the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine regarding Russian military buildup.
10:48
9.4.2014
An update from our news desk on the occupied buildings in eastern Ukraine:
Ukrainiain Interior Minister Arsen Avakov says force will be used if negotiations fail to remove separatists from regional government buildings in eastern Ukraine.
Avakov told journalists in Kyiv after a government meeting on April 9 that the situation will be resolved in the next two days.
He said there are two ways to solve the problem, negotiations or force.
Hundreds of pro-Russia protesters stormed government buildings in Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Luhansk on April 6.
Separatists were expelled from the Kharkiv government building by special Ukrainian forces on April 8.
But protesters in Donetsk proclaimed the creation of a sovereign "people's republic" from within the regional government building and built barricades around the structure.
Early on April 9, the Ukrainian State Security Service (SBU) said some 51 people had left its headquarters in Luhansk.
Avakov told journalists in Kyiv after a government meeting on April 9 that the situation will be resolved in the next two days.
He said there are two ways to solve the problem, negotiations or force.
Hundreds of pro-Russia protesters stormed government buildings in Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Luhansk on April 6.
Separatists were expelled from the Kharkiv government building by special Ukrainian forces on April 8.
But protesters in Donetsk proclaimed the creation of a sovereign "people's republic" from within the regional government building and built barricades around the structure.
Early on April 9, the Ukrainian State Security Service (SBU) said some 51 people had left its headquarters in Luhansk.
11:07
9.4.2014
11:39
9.4.2014
11:41
9.4.2014
And some more Reuters video. This one shows pro-Russian protesters in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk continuing to occupy the regional government building after building up their barricades with more tires and sandbags.
11:44
9.4.2014
From our Brussels correspondent:
The Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is recommending that the Russian delegation should have its voting right in the body suspended but stops short on throwing out the Russian delegation from PACE altogether.
The committee said on April 9 that Moscow should lose its voting rights until the end of the 2014 session, saying Russia's actions leading up to the annexation of Ukraine's Crimea are violations of international law.
It also states that “political dialogue should remain the most privileged way to find compromise, and there should be no return to the pattern of the Cold War.”
The document says that a suspension would make such a dialogue “impossible” and that PACE constitutes “a good platform for keeping the Russian delegation accountable on the basis of Council of Europe’s values and principles.”
Members of the assembly can still propose amendments to the text which will be voted on in Strasbourg on April 10.
The committee said on April 9 that Moscow should lose its voting rights until the end of the 2014 session, saying Russia's actions leading up to the annexation of Ukraine's Crimea are violations of international law.
It also states that “political dialogue should remain the most privileged way to find compromise, and there should be no return to the pattern of the Cold War.”
The document says that a suspension would make such a dialogue “impossible” and that PACE constitutes “a good platform for keeping the Russian delegation accountable on the basis of Council of Europe’s values and principles.”
Members of the assembly can still propose amendments to the text which will be voted on in Strasbourg on April 10.