20:56
11.4.2014
More from our news desk on the U.S. sanctions against the Crimean leaders.
The U.S. Treasury says Washington is imposing sanctions on seven Crimean separatist leaders and Crimea-based gas company Chernomorneftgaz for undermining democracy in Ukraine.
The step, announced in a statement on April 11, is the third round of U.S. sanctions in connection with the Ukraine crisis.
The imposition of new sanctions comes immediately ahead of talks among senior U.S., Russian, Ukrainian, and EU officials due in Geneva on April 17.
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki, who announced the date for the four-way talks to reporters in Washington April 11, said U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will attend.
She said Kerry will "continue efforts to de-escalate the situation in Ukraine and find a diplomatic path forward."
The step, announced in a statement on April 11, is the third round of U.S. sanctions in connection with the Ukraine crisis.
The imposition of new sanctions comes immediately ahead of talks among senior U.S., Russian, Ukrainian, and EU officials due in Geneva on April 17.
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki, who announced the date for the four-way talks to reporters in Washington April 11, said U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will attend.
She said Kerry will "continue efforts to de-escalate the situation in Ukraine and find a diplomatic path forward."
21:17
11.4.2014
We're wrapping up the blog now for another day. However, some details now emerging of where the G7 meeting later this year will be held. That's the one that was supposed to be held in Sochi.
The European Council says that leaders of the Group of Seven industrial powers will meet in Brussels for two days starting June 4.
The EU Council's press office announced the meeting date on Twitter on April 11.
The meeting had been due to take place in the Russian ski resort of Sochi, but was rescheduled after the G7 leaders decided to exclude Russia from the summit over Moscow's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.
The G7 summit will be attended by the leaders of the United States, Canada, France, Britain, Germany, Italy, and Japan.
EU president Herman van Rompuy and European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso are also almost certain to attend.
The EU Council's press office announced the meeting date on Twitter on April 11.
The meeting had been due to take place in the Russian ski resort of Sochi, but was rescheduled after the G7 leaders decided to exclude Russia from the summit over Moscow's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.
The G7 summit will be attended by the leaders of the United States, Canada, France, Britain, Germany, Italy, and Japan.
EU president Herman van Rompuy and European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso are also almost certain to attend.
09:47
12.4.2014
BREAKING: Armed men have seized a police department in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slovyansk.
10:13
12.4.2014
More on the developing story in Slovyansk.
Several armed men have seized control of a police department in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slovyansk.
Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov wrote on Facebook on April 12 that the men who took over the police station were wearing camouflage uniforms.
He said the "response will be very tough because there is a difference between protesters and terrorists."
Slovyansk is about 100 kilometers north of Donetsk and has a population of some 130,000 people.
Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov wrote on Facebook on April 12 that the men who took over the police station were wearing camouflage uniforms.
He said the "response will be very tough because there is a difference between protesters and terrorists."
Slovyansk is about 100 kilometers north of Donetsk and has a population of some 130,000 people.
10:20
12.4.2014
10:27
12.4.2014
As the article in the tweet in the previous entry explains, the Google Maps look different, depending on which territory you're in. For us, in Prague, it looks like this (see below). With a broken line separating the peninsula from the Ukrainian mainland. In Russia, it's a solid line.
10:41
12.4.2014
Crimea's new "constitution," passed on April 11, came into force today. The Kyiv Post has more.
10:49
12.4.2014
Not even an international crisis can stop Polish humor -- or advertising opportunities. A funny Polish vodka advert.
10:52
12.4.2014
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski: "Russia is on the road to replaying the worst scenarios of the 20th century"
Rosja na drodze do powtórki najgorszych scenariuszy XX wieku? Sikorski w "Horyzoncie" - TVN24 http://t.co/AvzMVF1lfj
— Radosław Sikorski (@sikorskiradek) April 12, 2014
10:57
12.4.2014
Great start for Russia's Investigative Committee in Crimea. The head of the new Yalta office has been sent home after covering up a brawl two of his investigators had with Crimean Tatars in a local restaraunt. This, via Gazeta.ru (in Russian).
Hat tip to Channel 5's Myroslava Petsa for flagging:
Hat tip to Channel 5's Myroslava Petsa for flagging: