19:21
16.5.2014
19:28
16.5.2014
BREAKING: U.S. President Barack Obama has repeated U.S. warnings that Russia will face "additional costs" if it continues its provocative behavior in Ukraine. The White House says Obama made the remark in a telephone conversation with the French President Francois Hollande.
08:28
17.5.2014
Good morning, picking up the live blog for another day.
From the German press this morning, Ukraine's acting Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya has called on the West to impose tougher sanctions against Russia, which he accused of waging a "hidden war" in eastern Ukraine.
Deshchytsya was speaking in an interview with the German newspaper "Die Welt."
The United States and the European Union have already imposed several rounds of sanctions on Russian individuals and some companies, accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of stoking the eastern rebellions, a charge Putin has denied.
Deshchytsya said German politicians should be aware "that Russia will not stop at Luhansk and Donetsk" and added that if they do not want to be held responsible for destabilizing the region, the German government has to be tougher toward Russia.
From the German press this morning, Ukraine's acting Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya has called on the West to impose tougher sanctions against Russia, which he accused of waging a "hidden war" in eastern Ukraine.
Deshchytsya was speaking in an interview with the German newspaper "Die Welt."
The United States and the European Union have already imposed several rounds of sanctions on Russian individuals and some companies, accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of stoking the eastern rebellions, a charge Putin has denied.
Deshchytsya said German politicians should be aware "that Russia will not stop at Luhansk and Donetsk" and added that if they do not want to be held responsible for destabilizing the region, the German government has to be tougher toward Russia.
08:30
17.5.2014
Regarding further sanctions, U.S. President Barack Obama and French President Francois Hollande spoke by telephone last night and discussed the crisis in Ukraine. Thery both warned Russia it will face "significant" further costs if it continues provocative and destabilizing behavior.
08:51
17.5.2014
From our news desk:
Ukrainian officials say pro-Russian separatists were able to free a separatist leader who had been captured by Ukrainian security forces on the Russian border.
Valeriy Bolotov, the self-styled governor of the self-declared Luhansk People's Republic, was detained by Ukrainian border guards on May 17 as he was returning to the Luhansk region from Russia.
At least 100 armed gunmen then attacked the border checkpoint and exchanged fire with Ukrainian border guards, eventually securing Bolotov's release.
Bolotov reportedly was shot on May 13 by an unidentified gunman and was in Russia receiving treatment for his wound.
A Ukrainian border guard official said they are determining if there are casualties from the shoot-out.
The incident occurred ahead of peace talks between in Kharkiv aimed at resolving the crisis with pro-Russian separatists who have seized government buildings in a string of eastern cities.
Valeriy Bolotov, the self-styled governor of the self-declared Luhansk People's Republic, was detained by Ukrainian border guards on May 17 as he was returning to the Luhansk region from Russia.
At least 100 armed gunmen then attacked the border checkpoint and exchanged fire with Ukrainian border guards, eventually securing Bolotov's release.
Bolotov reportedly was shot on May 13 by an unidentified gunman and was in Russia receiving treatment for his wound.
A Ukrainian border guard official said they are determining if there are casualties from the shoot-out.
The incident occurred ahead of peace talks between in Kharkiv aimed at resolving the crisis with pro-Russian separatists who have seized government buildings in a string of eastern cities.
08:56
17.5.2014
It looks like a standoff is likely tomorrow, with the leader of Crimea banning public rallies. Crimean Tatars planned to rally to mark the anniversary of Soviet deportations.
Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Dzhemilev and Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk spoke yesterday at a special ceremony in Kyiv to commemorate the 70-years anniversary.
"Opinions differ as to how long this occupation will last. We really hope it won't be for long. We hope that the efforts of the international community together with the democratic forces of Ukraine will shorten this occupation and I hope that in the nearest future Crimean Tatars will have a new date to celebrate, that of the end of occupation." -- Dzhemilev
"We are on the side of good. Stalin and the Bolsheviks thought that through deportation they could destroy Crimean Tatars. Never. These people have destroyed the regime that deported them and which humiliated them. Crimean Tatars exist, Bolsheviks, Stalin and the rest of them do not. And this is how it will be." -- Yatsenyuk
"We will move forward with you, [Crimean Tatars] toward a European, a united country, in which Crimea will be part of the Ukrainian state. Glory to your great people." -- Yatsenyuk
Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Dzhemilev and Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk spoke yesterday at a special ceremony in Kyiv to commemorate the 70-years anniversary.
"Opinions differ as to how long this occupation will last. We really hope it won't be for long. We hope that the efforts of the international community together with the democratic forces of Ukraine will shorten this occupation and I hope that in the nearest future Crimean Tatars will have a new date to celebrate, that of the end of occupation." -- Dzhemilev
"We are on the side of good. Stalin and the Bolsheviks thought that through deportation they could destroy Crimean Tatars. Never. These people have destroyed the regime that deported them and which humiliated them. Crimean Tatars exist, Bolsheviks, Stalin and the rest of them do not. And this is how it will be." -- Yatsenyuk
"We will move forward with you, [Crimean Tatars] toward a European, a united country, in which Crimea will be part of the Ukrainian state. Glory to your great people." -- Yatsenyuk
09:19
17.5.2014
Write-up in the "Post" about how billionaire Rinat Akhmetov might hold the key to the balance of power in Ukraine.
09:26
17.5.2014
10:58
17.5.2014
Russia quesions whether Ukraine's election can meet "democratic norms." This via AFP.
MOSCOW, May 17, 2014 (AFP) - Moscow on Saturday questioned whether Ukraine's May 25 presidential election can be held democratically amid continued fighting in the east of the country.
"Can elections held amid the thunder of guns really meet the democratic norms of the electoral process?" the foreign ministry said in a statement, urging authorities in Kiev to "immediately end military operations" in the country's southeast.
"Can elections held amid the thunder of guns really meet the democratic norms of the electoral process?" the foreign ministry said in a statement, urging authorities in Kiev to "immediately end military operations" in the country's southeast.
11:06
17.5.2014
Ukraine says traffic decreased at Russian border crossing in Luhansk Oblast. This via "The Kyiv Post":
Meanwhile, separatists in Donetsk Oblast say they are trying to get Ukrainian border guards there to switch sides. This via Interfax:
KRASNAYA TALOVKA, Luhansk Oblast -- Sergiy Chupryna, a supervisor of border guards on the international border between Luhansk Oblast and Russia at Krasnaya Talovka, said the number of people crossing their checkpoint decreased dramatically over the last months.
“Once we had some 2,000 people crossing the border per day here, but now there are only about 300 people he said.”
Chupryna said that people stopped coming from Russia's Rostov Oblast across the border fearing for their safety in Ukraine. Nevertheless, the borders guards keep watching this place in reinforced protection mode. There are deep anti-tank ditches dug along the border line.
“Once we had some 2,000 people crossing the border per day here, but now there are only about 300 people he said.”
Chupryna said that people stopped coming from Russia's Rostov Oblast across the border fearing for their safety in Ukraine. Nevertheless, the borders guards keep watching this place in reinforced protection mode. There are deep anti-tank ditches dug along the border line.
Meanwhile, separatists in Donetsk Oblast say they are trying to get Ukrainian border guards there to switch sides. This via Interfax:
SLOVYANSK. May 17 (Interfax) - The leadership of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic has started negotiations with Ukrainian border guards controlling the local section of the Ukrainian-Russian border to persuade them to side with them, Donetsk
People Republic Deputy Prime Minister Andriy Purhin said.
People Republic Deputy Prime Minister Andriy Purhin said.