16:43
15.5.2014
16:40
15.5.2014
RFE/RL's news desk has some more details of John Kerry's press conference in London:
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has urged Russia not to interfere in the upcoming presidential poll in Ukraine, warning that Moscow risks more targeted economic sanctions.
Speaking in London today after a meeting with foreign ministers from allied European countries, Kerry said the message for Russia was, "Let Ukraine vote."
Kerry said he and his European counterparts agreed on May 15 that Russia should face sectoral sanctions -- which would cover some of Russia's largest sectors including mining and gas -- if the Kremlin tries to disrupt Ukrainian presidential elections later this month.
Earlier, an unnamed senior U.S. official said the next phase of sanctions against Russia would use "a scalpel rather than a hammer" and would focus on new investment in Russia's most important economic sectors.
Speaking in London today after a meeting with foreign ministers from allied European countries, Kerry said the message for Russia was, "Let Ukraine vote."
Kerry said he and his European counterparts agreed on May 15 that Russia should face sectoral sanctions -- which would cover some of Russia's largest sectors including mining and gas -- if the Kremlin tries to disrupt Ukrainian presidential elections later this month.
Earlier, an unnamed senior U.S. official said the next phase of sanctions against Russia would use "a scalpel rather than a hammer" and would focus on new investment in Russia's most important economic sectors.
16:31
15.5.2014
Here's a live feed from RFE/RL's Ukrainian service showing American historian Timothy Snyder giving a lecture in Kyiv after warning earlier in Bratislava that Russia wants to divide the EU from inside:
16:14
15.5.2014
16:04
15.5.2014
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is giving a press conference right now. He has reiterated an earlier statement from a senior State Department official that certain sectors of Russian industry would be hit by sanctions if Moscow hampers the May 25 presidential poll in Ukraine.
16:01
15.5.2014
At least someone (i.e. the Russian Ministry for Foreign Affairs) seems to have liked John Pilger's heavily criticized op-ed piece on Ukraine for "The Guardian" yesterday:
15:43
15.5.2014
More gas-related developments from RFE/RL's news desk:
President Vladimir Putin says that, starting in June, Russia will deliver gas to Ukraine only if it pays in advance.
The warning came in an open letter to European leaders released by the Kremlin on May 15.
Putin said state-controlled Gazprom has been forced to demand advance payments after Ukraine's debt reached $3.5 billion.
Putin also called on the European Union to "more actively engage" in finding ways to stabilize Ukraine's crisis-hit economy.
Putin first warned Russia will demand that Ukraine pay in advance for Russian gas in a letter to European leaders last month.
Ukraine has said it could start paying off its debt if Moscow restored the lower gas price Kyiv was paying before pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted in February.
Gazprom more than doubled the price of gas for Ukraine after Yanukovych was ousted.
The warning came in an open letter to European leaders released by the Kremlin on May 15.
Putin said state-controlled Gazprom has been forced to demand advance payments after Ukraine's debt reached $3.5 billion.
Putin also called on the European Union to "more actively engage" in finding ways to stabilize Ukraine's crisis-hit economy.
Putin first warned Russia will demand that Ukraine pay in advance for Russian gas in a letter to European leaders last month.
Ukraine has said it could start paying off its debt if Moscow restored the lower gas price Kyiv was paying before pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted in February.
Gazprom more than doubled the price of gas for Ukraine after Yanukovych was ousted.
15:29
15.5.2014
"How Europe Enables Putin" Good reality check by @BV. http://t.co/rCwimDeXED
— Jakub Parusinski (@j_parus) May 15, 2014
15:19
15.5.2014
Meanwhile, this just in from our news desk:
A senior U.S. official says Washington and its European allies have found "broad unity" that Russia should face sector-based sanctions if Moscow tries to disrupt Ukrainian presidential elections later this month.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry briefed some key European Union foreign ministers in London today on U.S. thinking about sanctions against Russia, which would cover some of Russia's largest sectors, including mining and gas.
Kerry met with his counterparts from Britain, France, Germany, and Italy ahead of a meeting on Syria.
A senior State Department official, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said, "There was broad unity...that if the [May 25 presidential] elections are disrupted and Moscow's hand is behind that, we need to move to sectoral sanctions."
He added that "there was no dissent on that subject."
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry briefed some key European Union foreign ministers in London today on U.S. thinking about sanctions against Russia, which would cover some of Russia's largest sectors, including mining and gas.
Kerry met with his counterparts from Britain, France, Germany, and Italy ahead of a meeting on Syria.
A senior State Department official, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said, "There was broad unity...that if the [May 25 presidential] elections are disrupted and Moscow's hand is behind that, we need to move to sectoral sanctions."
He added that "there was no dissent on that subject."
15:15
15.5.2014