13:54
20.5.2014
Meanwhile, our news desk reports that U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is busy trying to assuage allies who may be getting a bit nervous about events in Ukraine:
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has reassured NATO ally Romania of America's commitment to the region in the face of the Ukrainian crisis.
Biden who arrived in Romania today, addressed U.S. and Romanian troops conducting a joint exercise at a base near Bucharest airport.
The vice president said Romania has been a reliable ally for the United States and added, "You can count on us. Period."
Biden said America owes a debt of gratitude to the Romanians who died fighting in Afghanistan as part of international coalition forces.
He added that NATO nations "are never alone."
Speaking about the crisis in Ukraine, Biden said Europe's borders should not change "at gunpoint."
The vice president is due to hold talks with Romanian President Traian Basescu and other officials, and will also meet with representatives of Romanian civil society.
Biden who arrived in Romania today, addressed U.S. and Romanian troops conducting a joint exercise at a base near Bucharest airport.
The vice president said Romania has been a reliable ally for the United States and added, "You can count on us. Period."
Biden said America owes a debt of gratitude to the Romanians who died fighting in Afghanistan as part of international coalition forces.
He added that NATO nations "are never alone."
Speaking about the crisis in Ukraine, Biden said Europe's borders should not change "at gunpoint."
The vice president is due to hold talks with Romanian President Traian Basescu and other officials, and will also meet with representatives of Romanian civil society.
14:06
20.5.2014
The ITAR-TASS news agency has more on the investigation into the deaths in the Trades Union building in Odesa on May 2:
Read more here
Many people who died in Odessa's Trade Unions House torched by militants from Ukraine's nationalist organization Right Sector and the so-called Maidan's self-defense, died of poisoning by unknown substance, the head of the regional department of the State Emergency Situations Service Vladimir Bodelan told reporters on Tuesday.He was speaking after a session of the parliament's Interim Investigation Commission which is looking into the mass murder of civilians. The commission had met behind closed doors.
"Some 80% died not of carbon monoxide poisoning or inhaling smoke. It was some other cause, which might be chloroform," Bodelan said.
Earlier, the regional emergency situations official said that thousands of attackers had not let rescuers to the scene for a long time, continuing to throw incendiary mixtures at the building and shooting at windows.
"Our rescuers carried out and led out more than 350 people. I won't go into political discussions of this event, yet cannot keep silent about the horror experienced by the rescued people when they found themselves downstairs," Bodelan said. "They were so badly beaten that those who were still in the building refused to come out."
"Some 80% died not of carbon monoxide poisoning or inhaling smoke. It was some other cause, which might be chloroform," Bodelan said.
Earlier, the regional emergency situations official said that thousands of attackers had not let rescuers to the scene for a long time, continuing to throw incendiary mixtures at the building and shooting at windows.
"Our rescuers carried out and led out more than 350 people. I won't go into political discussions of this event, yet cannot keep silent about the horror experienced by the rescued people when they found themselves downstairs," Bodelan said. "They were so badly beaten that those who were still in the building refused to come out."
Read more here
14:09
20.5.2014
Russia uses subliminal messages in video news coverage - Ukraine Security Service spokeswoman http://t.co/JKal5Idicw
— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) May 20, 2014
14:13
20.5.2014
Reuters: #EU pays out first loan tranche to #Ukraine http://t.co/X42nsVaD4X
— Kyiv Post (@KyivPost) May 20, 2014
14:27
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:
14:34
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
14:37
20.5.2014
Not sure he was ever that into that. pic.twitter.com/f10XCm6gjS
— Ben Judah (@b_judah) May 20, 2014
14:48
20.5.2014
Strong stuff from Lilia Shevtsova http://t.co/UqqNITBIJX
— Daniel Sandford (@BBCDanielS) May 20, 2014
14:57
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
15:44
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.