22:02
12.5.2014
The European Union's official journal has published the names of the 13 individuals and two entities against which it announced sanctions today. They are, via our Brussels correspondent Rikard Jozwiak:
-- Vyacheslav Viktorovich VOLODIN
-- Vladimir SHAMANOV
-- Vladimir Nikolaevich PLIGIN
-- Petr Grigorievich JAROSH
-- Oleg Grigorievich KOZYURA
-- Viacheslav PONOMARIOV (PONOMARYOV)
-- Igor Mykolaiovych BEZLER
-- Igor KAKIDZYANOV
-- Oleg TSARIOV
-- Roman LYAGIN
-- Aleksandr MALYKHIN
-- Natalia Vladimirovna POKLONSKAYA
-- Igor Sergeievich SHEVCHENKO
and the legal entities:
-- PJSC CHERNOMORNEFTEGAZ
-- FEODOSIA
-- Vyacheslav Viktorovich VOLODIN
-- Vladimir SHAMANOV
-- Vladimir Nikolaevich PLIGIN
-- Petr Grigorievich JAROSH
-- Oleg Grigorievich KOZYURA
-- Viacheslav PONOMARIOV (PONOMARYOV)
-- Igor Mykolaiovych BEZLER
-- Igor KAKIDZYANOV
-- Oleg TSARIOV
-- Roman LYAGIN
-- Aleksandr MALYKHIN
-- Natalia Vladimirovna POKLONSKAYA
-- Igor Sergeievich SHEVCHENKO
and the legal entities:
-- PJSC CHERNOMORNEFTEGAZ
-- FEODOSIA
21:56
12.5.2014
More of today's international condemnation of the eastern Ukrainian referendums and Moscow's actions, this time European Council President Herman Van Rompuy at a news conference with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk following their meeting in Kyiv.
"European Union is firmly committed to Ukraine's unity, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. We will not recognize the annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol, likewise we do not recognize the so-called referenda of yesterday. They are illegal, illegitimate, and not credible. They are a way to stir up division among Ukrainian communities."
"Violence must stop. Rule of law must be ensured. Human rights must be protected and political demands must be pursued by political and not by armed means. The only elections we will recognize are the [Ukrainian] presidential elections on the 25th of May."
"Violence must stop. Rule of law must be ensured. Human rights must be protected and political demands must be pursued by political and not by armed means. The only elections we will recognize are the [Ukrainian] presidential elections on the 25th of May."
21:54
12.5.2014
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev told a cabinet meeting in Moscow announcing the Russian government's decision to start charging Ukraine advanced payments for natural gas, effective from May 13:
"[As to the] implementation of what has been talked about a number of times -- switching to an advanced payment mode with our contractual customers in Ukraine, in other words Ukraine. This is what I think -- it is high time we stopped coddling them. Inform them that as of tomorrow advanced payment is being introduced. I believe that all possible means of resolving this situation otherwise have already been explored by Gazprom."
21:52
12.5.2014
More complete versions of the statements today from Denis Pushilin, a leading member of the self-declared "Donetsk People's Republic."
"We, the people of the People's Republic of Donetsk, based on the results of the referendum from May 11, 2014, and the declaration of sovereignty of the People's Republic of Donetsk, declare that from now on the People's Republic of Donetsk is a sovereign state."
"Based on the will of the people of the People's Republic of Donetsk and in order to restore historical justice, we are appealing to the Russian Federation to consider accepting the People's Republic of Donetsk as part of the Russian Federation."
"We spent most of the 20th century as part of Ukraine. However, it was only possible because Ukraine itself was a part of a single state. 1991 was a catastrophe in the Russian and Slavic world. And still, our people kept hoping that Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus will restore its historic unity. This hope perished in March 2014, when, during a coup the government in Ukraine was taken over by the Kyiv junta, which promotes neo-Nazi, anti-Russian, and Russophobic ideology."
"Based on the will of the people of the People's Republic of Donetsk and in order to restore historical justice, we are appealing to the Russian Federation to consider accepting the People's Republic of Donetsk as part of the Russian Federation."
"We spent most of the 20th century as part of Ukraine. However, it was only possible because Ukraine itself was a part of a single state. 1991 was a catastrophe in the Russian and Slavic world. And still, our people kept hoping that Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus will restore its historic unity. This hope perished in March 2014, when, during a coup the government in Ukraine was taken over by the Kyiv junta, which promotes neo-Nazi, anti-Russian, and Russophobic ideology."
21:26
12.5.2014
From our newsroom:
In the city of Slovyansk, which has been a flashpoint in the Donetsk region, the pro-Russian, self-styled "mayor," Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, called for Russian troops to provide stability and peace.
Ponomaryov described Ukrainian troops as occupiers.
Speaking in the administrative building in Slovyansk, the stronhgold of the armed rebels in eastern Ukraine, he said that Ukrainian soldiers "should go."
Asked whether the "Donetsk People's Republic" needed Russian military help, Ponomaryov replied: "I support this. We need Russian troops to provide stability and a peaceful life in the region's future."
Ponomaryov described Ukrainian troops as occupiers.
Speaking in the administrative building in Slovyansk, the stronhgold of the armed rebels in eastern Ukraine, he said that Ukrainian soldiers "should go."
Asked whether the "Donetsk People's Republic" needed Russian military help, Ponomaryov replied: "I support this. We need Russian troops to provide stability and a peaceful life in the region's future."
21:04
12.5.2014
RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reports that one of its affiliate radio stations in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk has been taken off the air by gunmen.
A "Radio Era-FM" representative told RFE/RL that armed men switched off the station's signal before midday local time today. The RFE/RL correspondent in Donetsk reports that the frequency is now being used to broadcast the programs of the "Republic" radio station, which is apparently backed by pro-Russian separatists.
A "Radio Era-FM" representative told RFE/RL that armed men switched off the station's signal before midday local time today. The RFE/RL correspondent in Donetsk reports that the frequency is now being used to broadcast the programs of the "Republic" radio station, which is apparently backed by pro-Russian separatists.
19:16
12.5.2014
Meanwhile, according to our news desk, there seems to be more diplomatic to-ing and fro-ing in eastern Europe, this time in response to Dmitry Rogozin's controversial tweet a couple of days ago regarding Romania:
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will be traveling to NATO-member Romania next week to discuss the response to "Russia’s illegal military intervention," accepting an invite today from the country's President Traian Basescu.
The visit comes after Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin tweeted on Saturday that the next time he would fly over Romania would be in a bomber. Romania asked for a clarification from Moscow on the remark.
Earlier today, Basescu said that he had invited both Biden and U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to Bucharest.
The White House said in a statement that Biden will "underscore the United States’ ironclad commitment to the collective defense of NATO under Article 5."
Basescu met CIA deputy director Avril Haines on May 12 in Bucharest, according to the Romanian president's office.
Biden will also visit Cyprus during the May 20-23 trip.
The visit comes after Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin tweeted on Saturday that the next time he would fly over Romania would be in a bomber. Romania asked for a clarification from Moscow on the remark.
Earlier today, Basescu said that he had invited both Biden and U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to Bucharest.
The White House said in a statement that Biden will "underscore the United States’ ironclad commitment to the collective defense of NATO under Article 5."
Basescu met CIA deputy director Avril Haines on May 12 in Bucharest, according to the Romanian president's office.
Biden will also visit Cyprus during the May 20-23 trip.
18:35
12.5.2014
Simon Jenkins trying to 'out-Seumas' Seumas Milne in foolish #Ukraine commentary. He should try actually coming here http://t.co/8iHvgWVfiy
— David Patrikarakos (@dpatrikarakos) May 12, 2014
18:07
12.5.2014
17:53
12.5.2014
Our news desk has just issued this on Donetsk's request to join Russia:
Pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk have declared independence and asked Russia to consider absorbing the eastern Ukrainian region.
The appeal came in a statement read out today at a news conference by Denis Pushilin, a leading member of the self-declared "Donetsk People's Republic."
It came one day after Donetsk and the neighboring Luhansk region held so-called self-rule referendums.
Organizers claimed a high voter turnout and overwhelming support for independence in the May 11 votes.
No international monitors observed the votes.
Ukraine's government and Western nations have rejected the votes as illegal.
The Russian government said the results of the votes should be "implemented in a civilized manner" and urged Ukrainian officials in Kyiv to engage in talks with the separatists.
The European Union expanded its sanctions against individuals and companies because of their involvement in the Ukraine crisis.
The appeal came in a statement read out today at a news conference by Denis Pushilin, a leading member of the self-declared "Donetsk People's Republic."
It came one day after Donetsk and the neighboring Luhansk region held so-called self-rule referendums.
Organizers claimed a high voter turnout and overwhelming support for independence in the May 11 votes.
No international monitors observed the votes.
Ukraine's government and Western nations have rejected the votes as illegal.
The Russian government said the results of the votes should be "implemented in a civilized manner" and urged Ukrainian officials in Kyiv to engage in talks with the separatists.
The European Union expanded its sanctions against individuals and companies because of their involvement in the Ukraine crisis.