14:09
17.5.2014
Tweet from the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry:
14:08
17.5.2014
Read the latest report from the OSCE monitoring mission in Ukraine here.
"In Donetsk and Luhansk the situation remained volatile. Other parts of Ukraine remained calm."
"In Donetsk and Luhansk the situation remained volatile. Other parts of Ukraine remained calm."
13:59
17.5.2014
Viktor Orban again calls for autonomy for Hungarians in Ukraine:
Orban renews autonomy call for ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine
Orban renews autonomy call for ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine
BUDAPEST, May 17 (Reuters) - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has renewed a plea for ethnic Hungarians in neighbouring Ukraine to be granted autonomy even after a similar call last week drew a diplomatic backlash.
"Ukraine can be neither stable, nor democratic if it does not give its minorities, including Hungarians, their due," Orban said on public television late on Friday. "That is, dual (Hungarian) citizenship, collective rights and autonomy."
Orban, re-elected in a landslide win last month, was reaffirming a call for autonomy for about 200,000 ethnic Hungarians in western Ukraine that he made a week ago as he was sworn in as prime minister.
His comments prompted Kiev to summon the Hungarian ambassador for an explanation on Tuesday and drew criticism from regional heavyweight Poland, an ally of Hungary within the Visegrad Four grouping of central European nations.
"Ukraine can be neither stable, nor democratic if it does not give its minorities, including Hungarians, their due," Orban said on public television late on Friday. "That is, dual (Hungarian) citizenship, collective rights and autonomy."
Orban, re-elected in a landslide win last month, was reaffirming a call for autonomy for about 200,000 ethnic Hungarians in western Ukraine that he made a week ago as he was sworn in as prime minister.
His comments prompted Kiev to summon the Hungarian ambassador for an explanation on Tuesday and drew criticism from regional heavyweight Poland, an ally of Hungary within the Visegrad Four grouping of central European nations.
13:55
17.5.2014
This via AFP:
KIEV, May 17, 2014 (AFP) - Ukraine's election body issued a stark warning Saturday that it may be impossible to hold next week's crucial presidential election in the east, where a pro-Moscow insurgency is threatening to plunge the country into all-out civil war.
And Russia also questioned how an election taking place under the "thunder of guns" could possibly meet democratic norms.
The Central Election Commission called for the authorities in Kiev to take urgent action to ensure security in the east, saying almost two million people could be prevented from voting on May 25 because of the rebellion.
And Russia also questioned how an election taking place under the "thunder of guns" could possibly meet democratic norms.
The Central Election Commission called for the authorities in Kiev to take urgent action to ensure security in the east, saying almost two million people could be prevented from voting on May 25 because of the rebellion.
13:52
17.5.2014
13:38
17.5.2014
13:37
17.5.2014
13:31
17.5.2014
Aleksei Kudrin, Russia's former finance minister, says Moscow will not face full isolation over Ukraine crisis. This via Interfax:
VLADIVOSTOK. May 17 (Interfax) - Former Russian Finance Minister and member of the presidium of the presidential Economic Council Alexei Kudrin believes Russia is not facing full isolation because of the events in Ukraine and the U.S.' and the EU's sanctions.
"I don't believe in a scenario of full political or economic isolation. I don't think the things will go this far. After all, I hope we, as a country, and our leadership feel where this line is and where the damage will be significant for the economy. I am sure everyone is assessing this," Kudrin said in an interview shown in a Saturday TV program hosted by Marianna Maksimovskaya on REN-TV channel on Saturday.
"I think everyone will be looking for a political solution," Kudrin said.
"I don't believe in a scenario of full political or economic isolation. I don't think the things will go this far. After all, I hope we, as a country, and our leadership feel where this line is and where the damage will be significant for the economy. I am sure everyone is assessing this," Kudrin said in an interview shown in a Saturday TV program hosted by Marianna Maksimovskaya on REN-TV channel on Saturday.
"I think everyone will be looking for a political solution," Kudrin said.
13:26
17.5.2014
In case you haven't seen it, here's a strong piece by RFE/RL's Claire Bigg on systematic torture in eastern Ukraine:
Read the whole report here.
When he ripped down a separatist flag from the main government building in Novohradovka, his hometown in eastern Ukraine, Oleksandr Hurov knew he was in for trouble.
Retaliation was quick, and ruthless.
Two weeks later, the 36-year-old coalminer lies in a Kyiv hospital with a fractured jaw, a broken nose, a lacerated arm, and cracked ribs.
Retaliation was quick, and ruthless.
Two weeks later, the 36-year-old coalminer lies in a Kyiv hospital with a fractured jaw, a broken nose, a lacerated arm, and cracked ribs.
Read the whole report here.
13:22
17.5.2014