20:43
18.4.2014
This just in from our news desk:
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov has confirmed that Russia does have troops near the Ukrainian border and that some of those forces are stationed there "on a permanent basis."
Peskov said additional forces are in the area along Russia's border with Ukraine but only "as reinforcement aganst the background of what is going on in Ukraine."
Peskov also said Washington's threats of additional sanctions against Russia if Moscow does not adhere to the terms of an agreement reached yesterday in Geneva between top diplomats from Russia, Ukraine, the United States, and European Union were "absolutely unacceptable."
"We can mobilize our whole society if someone starts driving Russia into a corner," he said. "Thank God, it is impossible to drive Russia into a corner."
Peskov said additional forces are in the area along Russia's border with Ukraine but only "as reinforcement aganst the background of what is going on in Ukraine."
Peskov also said Washington's threats of additional sanctions against Russia if Moscow does not adhere to the terms of an agreement reached yesterday in Geneva between top diplomats from Russia, Ukraine, the United States, and European Union were "absolutely unacceptable."
"We can mobilize our whole society if someone starts driving Russia into a corner," he said. "Thank God, it is impossible to drive Russia into a corner."
21:57
18.4.2014
Barring any dramatic developments, we are closing the live blog for today. Before we go, we'll leave you with our news desk's report on the reaction in Washington to news of anti-Semitic flyers being distributed in Donetsk.
The White House says reports of an anti-Semitic flyer distributed in eastern Ukraine are "utterly sickening" and that U.S. President Barack Obama was disgusted by the leaflet, whose origins remain murky.
"The president expressed his disgust quite bluntly," U.S. national-security adviser Susan Rice told reporters at the White House today. "I think we all found word of those pamphlets to be utterly sickening, and they have no place in the 21st century."
The flyers, which were reportedly distributed by masked men outside a synagogue in Donetsk on April 15, demanded that Jews register under threat of deportation due to their "support" of the government in Kyiv.
They were supposedly signed by a pro-Moscow separatist leader in Donetsk, who has denied involvement in the incident.
"The president expressed his disgust quite bluntly," U.S. national-security adviser Susan Rice told reporters at the White House today. "I think we all found word of those pamphlets to be utterly sickening, and they have no place in the 21st century."
The flyers, which were reportedly distributed by masked men outside a synagogue in Donetsk on April 15, demanded that Jews register under threat of deportation due to their "support" of the government in Kyiv.
They were supposedly signed by a pro-Moscow separatist leader in Donetsk, who has denied involvement in the incident.
10:09
19.4.2014
Good Morning. We'll get the live blog rolling today with an update from our news desk on Moscow's reaction to Ukraine's ban on Russian men entering the country:
The Russian Foreign Ministry has accused the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of being biased for failing to criticize Ukraine's ban on most Russian men from entering the country.
The ministry said in a statement that it is "outrageous" that the ODIHR has not reacted to the Ukrainian government's ban on most men aged 16-60 from entering Ukraine.
The Foreign Ministry also accused the ODIHR of supporting the ban, which began on April 17 for Russian men who cannot prove they are coming to Ukraine for a reason that is business-related or due to a relative's death.
It also complained of the assaults in Kyiv of presidential candidates Oleh Tsaryov and Mykhaylo Dobkin outside a television station.
The ministry said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had condemned the attacks but the OSCE had not.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has accused the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of being biased for failing to criticize Ukraine's ban on most Russian men from entering the country.
The ministry said in a statement that it is "outrageous" that the ODIHR has not reacted to the Ukrainian government's ban on most men aged 16-60 from entering Ukraine.
The Foreign Ministry also accused the ODIHR of supporting the ban, which began on April 17 for Russian men who cannot prove they are coming to Ukraine for a reason that is business-related or due to a relative's death.
It also complained of the assaults in Kyiv of presidential candidates Oleh Tsaryov and Mykhaylo Dobkin outside a television station.
The ministry said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had condemned the attacks but the OSCE had not.
10:13
19.4.2014
In case you missed it yesterday, BuzzFeed's Miriam Elder has compiled a nice synopsis of Vladimir Zhironovsky's outrageous tirade (even by his standards) live on TV yesterday -- blaming the Maidan on "uterine-frenzied" women:
The disgusting tale of how a Russian MP ordered his aide to rape a journalist on live TV, in GIFs http://t.co/16vQ6ha3xE
— Miriam Elder (@MiriamElder) April 18, 2014
10:36
19.4.2014
A report which alleges to be confirmed says armed ppl stormed a Roma home in Slavyansk. Yesterday fliers intimidating Jews & today Romas
— bruce springnote (@BSpringnote) April 19, 2014
11:02
19.4.2014
Eastern Ukraine poll: ✓51% @Turchynov is illegitimate ✓70% no danger for Russian lang ✓45% want to stay w Ukraine http://t.co/qpb773ryAP
— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) April 19, 2014
11:12
19.4.2014
Via the Kyiv Post, Crimea to switch to Russian ruble in 2-3 weeks.
Crimea will fully switch to the Russian ruble within the next few weeks, the republic's acting head Sergei Aksionov told reporters in Simferopol on Friday.
11:15
19.4.2014
From RFE/RL's News Desk:
Vladimir Putin has welcomed NATO's selection of former Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg as its new head.
In an interview with the state-run Rossiya television station to be broadcast on April 19, the Russian presidentsaid his relations with Stoltenberg were "very good."
He described Stoltenberg, who takes over in October, as "a very serious, responsible person" and voiced hope that his appointment will improve ties.
Relations between Russia and the NATO military alliance are badly strained following Russia's annexation of Crimea.
Putin has said Russia's actions in Ukraine were partly influenced by NATO's expansion into eastern Europe.
In his interview with Rossiya, he reiterated an accusation that current NATO head Anders Fogh Rasmussen had secretly taped and leaked a private conversation between them when he still served as Danish prime minister. Rasmussen has denied the charge.
Putin said there was "nothing that would hinder a normalization and normal cooperation" with the West, but said it was up to the West to make that happen.
In an interview with the state-run Rossiya television station to be broadcast on April 19, the Russian presidentsaid his relations with Stoltenberg were "very good."
He described Stoltenberg, who takes over in October, as "a very serious, responsible person" and voiced hope that his appointment will improve ties.
Relations between Russia and the NATO military alliance are badly strained following Russia's annexation of Crimea.
Putin has said Russia's actions in Ukraine were partly influenced by NATO's expansion into eastern Europe.
In his interview with Rossiya, he reiterated an accusation that current NATO head Anders Fogh Rasmussen had secretly taped and leaked a private conversation between them when he still served as Danish prime minister. Rasmussen has denied the charge.
Putin said there was "nothing that would hinder a normalization and normal cooperation" with the West, but said it was up to the West to make that happen.
11:17
19.4.2014
Would be interested to know which reps of Donetsk People's Repub Tymoshenko spoke with--doubt any of em would fess up http://t.co/CPqU2Kj3kI
— Alec Luhn (@ASLuhn) April 19, 2014
11:17
19.4.2014
Would be interested to know which reps of Donetsk People's Repub Tymoshenko spoke with--doubt any of em would fess up http://t.co/CPqU2Kj3kI
— Alec Luhn (@ASLuhn) April 19, 2014