20:04
30.5.2014
The Kremlin reports that President Putin and French President Francois Hollande discussed Ukraine today in a phone conversation initiated by the French side. Here's what the Kremlin's website said of the talk:
The men reportedly talked about a planned bilateral meeting on June 5.
And the Kremlin added that the Russian leader -- no doubt mindful of calls in some quarters for his exclusion from upcoming D-Day comemmorations -- "confirmed his readiness to participate in celebratory events in Normandy on June 6, honouring the 70th anniversary of the Allied landing."
The two Presidents continued an exchange of views on developments in Ukraine. The President of Russia noted the need for an immediate end to the violence and bloodshed by Kiev authorities and the launch of a direct dialogue between Kiev and representatives from southeastern Ukraine.
The men reportedly talked about a planned bilateral meeting on June 5.
And the Kremlin added that the Russian leader -- no doubt mindful of calls in some quarters for his exclusion from upcoming D-Day comemmorations -- "confirmed his readiness to participate in celebratory events in Normandy on June 6, honouring the 70th anniversary of the Allied landing."
19:52
30.5.2014
19:06
30.5.2014
The leadership of the "Luhansk People's Republic" claims that the Ukrainian National Guard's military facility in Luhansk is "occupied by self-defense forces -- our people are now there," Interfax reports. The fate of commanders is "unknown" and rank-and-file "soldiers, conscripts, or contract servicemen" are nowhere to be found, the group says.
This is the facility stormed a day earlier in an incident that Ukrainian authorities acknowledged had forced a "retreat" by National Guardsmen but said the attackers had merely taken over "some buildings."
This is the facility stormed a day earlier in an incident that Ukrainian authorities acknowledged had forced a "retreat" by National Guardsmen but said the attackers had merely taken over "some buildings."
18:25
30.5.2014
European Union Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger says Ukraine has paid part of its debt for gas to Russia and announced there will be another round of talks between representatives of the EU, Russia, and Ukraine on June 2.
At a press conference after a May 30 tripartite meeting in Berlin, Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuriy Prodan said Ukraine's state gas company Naftohaz had transferred $786 million to the account of Gazprom. Prodan said that money covers Ukraine's bill for Russian gas for the months of February and March.
Russia was demanding Ukraine pay off bills dating back to last year and wanted $2 billion of that money by May 30.
Russian Energy Minister Aleksandr Novak said he was told Ukraine had transferred the payment for February and March but since it's a Friday Russian authorities would not be able to confirm the money was in Gazprom's bank account until June 2.
At a press conference after a May 30 tripartite meeting in Berlin, Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuriy Prodan said Ukraine's state gas company Naftohaz had transferred $786 million to the account of Gazprom. Prodan said that money covers Ukraine's bill for Russian gas for the months of February and March.
Russia was demanding Ukraine pay off bills dating back to last year and wanted $2 billion of that money by May 30.
Russian Energy Minister Aleksandr Novak said he was told Ukraine had transferred the payment for February and March but since it's a Friday Russian authorities would not be able to confirm the money was in Gazprom's bank account until June 2.
18:08
30.5.2014
Should note that Rasmussen's suggestion that around two-thirds of the Russian troops that were near the Ukrainian border are gone is far higher than previous NATO estimates.
Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of a meeting of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in the Lithuanian capital, Rasmussen described the situation as bearing "signs of at least a partial withdrawal."
Rasmussen also said that NATO and Russia would meet in the framework of a cooperative body, the NATO-Russia Council, on June 2 but gave no further details.
Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of a meeting of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in the Lithuanian capital, Rasmussen described the situation as bearing "signs of at least a partial withdrawal."
Rasmussen also said that NATO and Russia would meet in the framework of a cooperative body, the NATO-Russia Council, on June 2 but gave no further details.
17:51
30.5.2014
NATO Secretary-General Rasmussen says "maybe two-thirds" of Russian troops have pulled back from Ukraine border. NATO and Russian representatives will meet on June 2.
17:21
30.5.2014
Claire Bigg's latest piece is "Vostok Battalion, A Powerful New Player In Eastern Ukraine."
The Donetsk raid was obviously aimed at shaming the militants who had established quarters there, analysts say.
Vostok fighters actually led Western journalists through the reclaimed building, vigorously breaking down doors and showing off the groceries, cigarettes, and alcohol looted by the previous occupiers.
This adds weight to the notion that Moscow, after tacitly fueling separatist unrest for weeks, is now eager to rein in the spiraling anarchy unleashed in eastern Ukraine.
Vostok fighters actually led Western journalists through the reclaimed building, vigorously breaking down doors and showing off the groceries, cigarettes, and alcohol looted by the previous occupiers.
This adds weight to the notion that Moscow, after tacitly fueling separatist unrest for weeks, is now eager to rein in the spiraling anarchy unleashed in eastern Ukraine.
Read more HERE
16:58
30.5.2014
Some excerpts from NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen's remarks at today's spring session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Vilnius:
"We continue to stand with our partner Ukraine, to support Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and the right of the Ukrainian people to determine their own future without outside interference."
"The crisis [in Ukraine] has clearly shown why defense matters. It also shows that defense spending matters."
"Since 2008, Russian defense spending has grown by more than 10 percent in real terms every year. That's a total increase of well over 50 percent and many forecast that it will grow at a faster rate in the coming years. Over the same period, total defense spending by European allies has been cut by almost 10 percent in real terms."
"We do not face a single crisis in our neighborhood but actually an arch of crisis from the east through the south and beyond."
"The crisis [in Ukraine] has clearly shown why defense matters. It also shows that defense spending matters."
"Since 2008, Russian defense spending has grown by more than 10 percent in real terms every year. That's a total increase of well over 50 percent and many forecast that it will grow at a faster rate in the coming years. Over the same period, total defense spending by European allies has been cut by almost 10 percent in real terms."
"We do not face a single crisis in our neighborhood but actually an arch of crisis from the east through the south and beyond."
16:38
30.5.2014
An update on the looming gas talks, based on Russian and other agency reports:
Ahead of gas talks between the European Union, Russia, and Ukraine, Russia's energy minister notes that Ukraine still has not paid its gas debt.
Ukraine's energy minister meanwhile repeated Kyiv's intention to take Russia to court.
The Russian and Ukrainian energy ministers -- Aleksandr Novak and Yuriy Prodan, respectively -- and EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger are due to meet in Berlin today for talks on Ukraine's multibillion-dollar debt to Russia for gas supplies as well as on the security of Russian gas supplies transiting through Ukraine to Europe.
Ahead of the meeting, Novak said Russia has not received any payment for gas from Ukraine despite Moscow setting a May 30 deadline to receive at least $2 billion.
Prodan said Ukraine is prepared to file suit in an international arbitration court as soon as today about Russia nearly doubling its gas price.
Ukraine's energy minister meanwhile repeated Kyiv's intention to take Russia to court.
The Russian and Ukrainian energy ministers -- Aleksandr Novak and Yuriy Prodan, respectively -- and EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger are due to meet in Berlin today for talks on Ukraine's multibillion-dollar debt to Russia for gas supplies as well as on the security of Russian gas supplies transiting through Ukraine to Europe.
Ahead of the meeting, Novak said Russia has not received any payment for gas from Ukraine despite Moscow setting a May 30 deadline to receive at least $2 billion.
Prodan said Ukraine is prepared to file suit in an international arbitration court as soon as today about Russia nearly doubling its gas price.