18:22
10.4.2014
The Ukrainian Communist Party has demanded an investigation into a fire that seriously damaged its headquarters in Kyiv. The blaze broke out late on April 9, shortly after police evicted anticommunist activists who had occupied the building for about two months.
Our Ukrainian Service did this video report on the fire and its aftermath.
Our Ukrainian Service did this video report on the fire and its aftermath.
18:25
10.4.2014
Council of Europe suspends Russian lawmakers over #Ukraine: http://t.co/3KNQTCe00n My take on today's developments for @dpa_intl
— Nikolaus von Twickel (@niktwick) April 10, 2014
18:42
10.4.2014
This has just been issued by our news desk:
Russian President Vladimir Putin says his decision to take Ukraine's Crimea under Russian control was finally made after "secret polls" showed that its people wanted to be ruled by Moscow.
Putin was quoted as saying on April 10 that his government initially was not "prepared for such a turn of events."
He said that only after the "secret polls" were held, "it became clear once and for all that we have chosen our line of action well."
He said a first poll showed that 80 percent of the people of Crimea wanted the region to join Russia. He said that figure increased even more at the March 16 referendum, "when the process began developing."
Russia annexed Crimea after the referendum denounced as illegitimate by Ukraine and Western powers.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says his decision to take Ukraine's Crimea under Russian control was finally made after "secret polls" showed that its people wanted to be ruled by Moscow.
Putin was quoted as saying on April 10 that his government initially was not "prepared for such a turn of events."
He said that only after the "secret polls" were held, "it became clear once and for all that we have chosen our line of action well."
He said a first poll showed that 80 percent of the people of Crimea wanted the region to join Russia. He said that figure increased even more at the March 16 referendum, "when the process began developing."
Russia annexed Crimea after the referendum denounced as illegitimate by Ukraine and Western powers.
19:28
10.4.2014
Massive arguments at Donetsk Republic Government meeting over whether to accept a deal and quit the building. Mirror of maidan quarrels.
— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) April 10, 2014
19:32
10.4.2014
RFE/RL's news desk has issued this item on Russian troop movements near the Ukrainian border:
Russia's RIA news agency cites an unnamed official in the Russian military general staff as saying the photographs were taken in August 2013 during drills near the border.
British Brigadier Gary Deakin said at a briefing on April 10 at the alliance's military headquarters in southern France that NATO had spotted Russian forces at more than 100 different sites close to the Ukrainian border.
He said the force was ready to move quickly if ordered and represented a "real threat" for Ukraine.
The Russian troop buildup has raised concerns Moscow may be preparing for further intervention in Ukraine after the annexation of Crimea last month.
Russia denies the accusations.
NATO has unveiled satellite photographs it says show Russian deployments of some 40,000 troops, along with tanks, armored vehicles, artillery and aircraft near the Ukraine border. It says the pictures were taken between March 22 and April 2.
Russia's RIA news agency cites an unnamed official in the Russian military general staff as saying the photographs were taken in August 2013 during drills near the border.
British Brigadier Gary Deakin said at a briefing on April 10 at the alliance's military headquarters in southern France that NATO had spotted Russian forces at more than 100 different sites close to the Ukrainian border.
He said the force was ready to move quickly if ordered and represented a "real threat" for Ukraine.
The Russian troop buildup has raised concerns Moscow may be preparing for further intervention in Ukraine after the annexation of Crimea last month.
Russia denies the accusations.
20:17
10.4.2014
As ever the USSR flag flies at pro-Russia demos in Eastern #Ukraine #Luhansk pic.twitter.com/6NWXriNMHn
— David Patrikarakos (@dpatrikarakos) April 10, 2014
21:38
10.4.2014
On Friday in Prague - to speak about new Europe & #enlargement in a new political context.
— Štefan Füle (@StefanFuleEU) April 10, 2014
22:01
10.4.2014
Barring any dramatic developments, we are now closing the live blog for today.
Before we go, we'd like to point you in the direction of some of RFE/RL's latest Ukraine-related features.
Charles Recknagel takes a look at how Ukraine's civil society has been faring since the Maidan. Robert Coalson gives us a nice overview of the ethnic Russian communities living beyond Russia's borders while Natalya Dzhanpoladova and Claire Bigg report on how Moscow failed to see the funny side when a journalist made a joke about the annexation of Crimea.
Before we go, we'd like to point you in the direction of some of RFE/RL's latest Ukraine-related features.
Charles Recknagel takes a look at how Ukraine's civil society has been faring since the Maidan. Robert Coalson gives us a nice overview of the ethnic Russian communities living beyond Russia's borders while Natalya Dzhanpoladova and Claire Bigg report on how Moscow failed to see the funny side when a journalist made a joke about the annexation of Crimea.
07:26
11.4.2014
Good morning. We'll get the ball rolling this morning with this item from RFE/RL's news desk on a telephone call between Barack Obama and Angela Merkel over the situation in Ukraine:
The White House says President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have discussed potential further sanctions against Russia over its involvement in Ukraine.
The White House said in a statement that, during a phone call last night, Obama and Merkel called again on Moscow to withdraw its troops from the border region.
The statement said that pro-Russian separatists, "apparently with support from Moscow," were destabilizing Ukraine through "an orchestrated campaign of incitement and sabotage."
It said Obama "underscored the need for the United States, European Union, and other global partners to be prepared to meet further Russian escalation with additional sanctions."
The United States also accused Moscow of using energy to bully Ukraine after Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Europe that gas supplies to Ukraine could be suspended if Kyiv does not pay off its $2.2 billion gas debt.
The White House says President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have discussed potential further sanctions against Russia over its involvement in Ukraine.
The White House said in a statement that, during a phone call last night, Obama and Merkel called again on Moscow to withdraw its troops from the border region.
The statement said that pro-Russian separatists, "apparently with support from Moscow," were destabilizing Ukraine through "an orchestrated campaign of incitement and sabotage."
It said Obama "underscored the need for the United States, European Union, and other global partners to be prepared to meet further Russian escalation with additional sanctions."
The United States also accused Moscow of using energy to bully Ukraine after Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Europe that gas supplies to Ukraine could be suspended if Kyiv does not pay off its $2.2 billion gas debt.
08:04
11.4.2014
At #Donetsk mine they recall collecting money for striking UK miners in 1980s. Now they're worried about own future. pic.twitter.com/ybeAgbzfkN
— Steve Rosenberg (@BBCSteveR) April 11, 2014