07:33
21.5.2014
Prince Charles 'compared Russian actions to Nazis' http://t.co/xLfLm4ERdd
— bruce springnote (@BSpringnote) May 21, 2014
07:27
21.5.2014
Good morning. We'll start the live blog today with our news desk's update on the fact that Russian troops appear to have pulled back, at least partially, from the Ukrainian border.
Kyiv says Russian troops have moved out of a 10-kilometer zone along Ukraine’s border just days before presidential elections.
But Ukrainian authorities stopped short of confirming Moscow's claims that a full withdrawal has been made.
The Pentagon said on May 20 that it had seen no evidence Russia has withdrawn its 40,000 troops.
Ahead of the May 25 presidential election, Ukrainian authorities are scheduled to hold a new round of "national dialogue" today aimed at ending an insurgency by pro-Russian separatists who control dozens of cities and towns in eastern Ukraine.
The talks are to take place in the southern city of Mykolayv.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s richest man, Rinat Akhmetov, has denounced pro-Russian rebels as bandits who might create "genocide."
Akhmetov, seen as a key powerbroker in Ukraine’s crisis, condemned the insurgency and called on Ukrainians to stage peace rallies.
But Ukrainian authorities stopped short of confirming Moscow's claims that a full withdrawal has been made.
The Pentagon said on May 20 that it had seen no evidence Russia has withdrawn its 40,000 troops.
Ahead of the May 25 presidential election, Ukrainian authorities are scheduled to hold a new round of "national dialogue" today aimed at ending an insurgency by pro-Russian separatists who control dozens of cities and towns in eastern Ukraine.
The talks are to take place in the southern city of Mykolayv.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s richest man, Rinat Akhmetov, has denounced pro-Russian rebels as bandits who might create "genocide."
Akhmetov, seen as a key powerbroker in Ukraine’s crisis, condemned the insurgency and called on Ukrainians to stage peace rallies.
18:21
20.5.2014
Update from our news desk on Russia's claim that it has pulled back troops from Ukraine's border.
Acting Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya said on May 20 his government could not yet confirm Russia's claim it has pulled its troops back from Ukraine's border.
Deshchytsya, on a visit to Berlin, said Ukraine hopes the declarations made by Russian officials about the withdrawal "will not remain just declarations."
Ukraine's border guard service earlier on May 20 said that Russian forces had left the area within 10 kilometers of the border shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the troops to withdraw.
Putin ordered the troops to pull back on May 19, six days before Ukraine holds a presidential election.
NATO estimates Russia had amassed 40,000 troops near the border as pro-Russian separatists seized control of several towns in eastern Ukraine.
Deshchytsya, on a visit to Berlin, said Ukraine hopes the declarations made by Russian officials about the withdrawal "will not remain just declarations."
Ukraine's border guard service earlier on May 20 said that Russian forces had left the area within 10 kilometers of the border shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the troops to withdraw.
Putin ordered the troops to pull back on May 19, six days before Ukraine holds a presidential election.
NATO estimates Russia had amassed 40,000 troops near the border as pro-Russian separatists seized control of several towns in eastern Ukraine.
17:44
20.5.2014
Interfax earlier quoted RT as saying one of its reporters, Graham Phillips, had been detained in Ukraine. It seems from this RT retweet, they still haven't heard from him.
16:57
20.5.2014
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk says that, if Russia refuses to settle the gas dispute by the end of the month, Kyiv will take to matter to the Stockholm court of arbitration.
Якщо РФ відмовиться від врегулювання газового спору - наприкінці травня ми передамо позов у Стокгольмський Арбітраж http://t.co/9Aw5eQN6Pw
— Arseniy Yatsenyuk (@Yatsenyuk_AP) May 20, 2014
16:48
20.5.2014
Strong stuff from Lilia Shevtsova http://t.co/UqqNITBIJX
— Daniel Sandford (@BBCDanielS) May 20, 2014
16:37
20.5.2014
Not sure he was ever that into that. pic.twitter.com/f10XCm6gjS
— Ben Judah (@b_judah) May 20, 2014
16:34
20.5.2014
Here’s more detail on the voting process – Thursday last day to appeal if your name isn't on the voter rolls. https://t.co/RoqN4Abky5
— Geoffrey Pyatt (@GeoffPyatt) May 20, 2014
16:27
20.5.2014
The Russian Foreign Ministry isadding its voice to calls for the release of LifeNews journalists Oleg Sidyakin and Marat Saichenko, who have been detained by Ukrainian security forces:
16:13
20.5.2014
Reuters: #EU pays out first loan tranche to #Ukraine http://t.co/X42nsVaD4X
— Kyiv Post (@KyivPost) May 20, 2014