12:29
10.6.2014
On a visit to Kyiv, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland tried today to rebut Moscow's suggestions of excessive U.S. involvement in Ukraine, as well as to highlight the urgency of greater Russian cooperation in ending the unrest in eastern Ukraine. Here are some of her comments, via our Ukrainian Service:
"We've made very clear, first as the United States, but also as a G7 community, when the leaders met in Brussels last week, that it is unacceptable for the Russian Federation to be allowing the kind of fighters and weapons and materials that we've seen, and you saw in the G7 statement that came out of Brussels, that closing the border is one of the things that we are asking [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin to work with the Ukrainian government on an urgent basis."
"The United States has supported Ukraine since 1991, with about $5 billion in total. That is support in all areas from Chernobyl cleanup to people to people exchanges, to our economic support through the years including after the Orange Revolution."
"During the same period since 1991, the United States has spent close to $18 billion in the Russian Federation on similar programs including in the areas of non-proliferation."
"There was zero U.S. government financial support for the Maidan."
"The United States has supported Ukraine since 1991, with about $5 billion in total. That is support in all areas from Chernobyl cleanup to people to people exchanges, to our economic support through the years including after the Orange Revolution."
"During the same period since 1991, the United States has spent close to $18 billion in the Russian Federation on similar programs including in the areas of non-proliferation."
"There was zero U.S. government financial support for the Maidan."
11:22
10.6.2014
11:18
10.6.2014
11:18
10.6.2014
Via Interfax:
The Ukrainian Parliament's commissioner for human rights, Valeria Lutkivska, has proposed holding a meeting with her Russian counterpart Ella Pamfilova in Kharkiv on June 13 in order to discuss the situation in Ukraine's eastern regions.
Lutkivska's press service told Interfax that an appropriate letter had been forwarded to Russia's human rights commissioner on Monday.
Russian and Ukrainian human rights activists and UN representatives should be present at such a meeting as well.
The press service also said that on May 28 human rights campaigners in Ukraine and Russia published an appeal to the two countries' commissioners, asking them to establish a joint mission to monitor the situation in eastern Ukraine and prevent violence there.
Lutkivska's press service told Interfax that an appropriate letter had been forwarded to Russia's human rights commissioner on Monday.
Russian and Ukrainian human rights activists and UN representatives should be present at such a meeting as well.
The press service also said that on May 28 human rights campaigners in Ukraine and Russia published an appeal to the two countries' commissioners, asking them to establish a joint mission to monitor the situation in eastern Ukraine and prevent violence there.
11:14
10.6.2014
Here is President Poroshenko's English-language statement on his order to "establish an escape corridor for civilians willing to move from the territories where the counterterrorist operation is being held."
President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko met with heads of the Security Service of Ukraine, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Defense and the State Emergency Service.
In order to avoid new victims in the area of holding the counterterrorist operation, the President instructed heads of law enforcement and military agencies to provide all the necessary conditions for civilians willing to move.
The Head of State also instructed the Government to take responsibility for the transportation of people and medical services, as well as deploy the network of mobile units to provide the civilian population with drinking water, food and medicines.
City state administrations, local government bodies and the Cabinet of Ministers must jointly ensure the accommodation of people arriving from the area of holding the counterterrorist operation.
In order to avoid new victims in the area of holding the counterterrorist operation, the President instructed heads of law enforcement and military agencies to provide all the necessary conditions for civilians willing to move.
The Head of State also instructed the Government to take responsibility for the transportation of people and medical services, as well as deploy the network of mobile units to provide the civilian population with drinking water, food and medicines.
City state administrations, local government bodies and the Cabinet of Ministers must jointly ensure the accommodation of people arriving from the area of holding the counterterrorist operation.
11:10
10.6.2014
RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service interviewed Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Power Engineering and Coal Industry Vadim Ulida (in Ukrainian) about that country's energy dependence on Russia.
The live interview is concluding but you can watch the program HERE.
The live interview is concluding but you can watch the program HERE.
11:06
10.6.2014
11:02
10.6.2014
Kharkiv Mayor Hennadiy Kernes, flown to Israel for treatment after an apparent assassination attempt on April 28, appears to be feeling better. The Brooklyn Nets are Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov's team, btw.
h/t @MaxSeddon
10:58
10.6.2014
10:56
10.6.2014
Former U.S. Ambassador to Kyiv and current Brookings Institution senior fellow Steven Pifer offers some insight via "Kyiv Post" toward "Settling Ukraine's Crisis":
He outlines those reasons, then goes on:
And as for newly inaugurated President Petro Poroshenko's task when he makes his promised trip to eastern Ukraine:
Kyiv’s foreign policy is of interest to many Ukrainians—and potentially controversial. Many in the east do not want deeper ties with NATO. How far Ukraine wishes to take its relationship with the Alliance is a decision for Kyiv and NATO. Poroshenko appears interested in cooperation but has ruled out moving toward membership.
That is a sensible policy...
That is a sensible policy...
He outlines those reasons, then goes on:
The European Union presents a different question.
Poroshenko, the Rada and a majority of Ukrainians favor drawing closer to the European Union and signature of the Ukraine-EU association agreement, which is now scheduled for June 27. Moscow complained last fall that the European Union refused to discuss the association agreement with Russian officials. Kyiv could suggest that it is prepared for a trilateral EU-Ukraine-Russia discussion on steps that the European Union and Ukraine might take to ameliorate negative effects that the association agreement might have for Ukraine-Russia trade—but not on the question of Ukraine’s right to decide for itself whether or not to sign the agreement.
Poroshenko, the Rada and a majority of Ukrainians favor drawing closer to the European Union and signature of the Ukraine-EU association agreement, which is now scheduled for June 27. Moscow complained last fall that the European Union refused to discuss the association agreement with Russian officials. Kyiv could suggest that it is prepared for a trilateral EU-Ukraine-Russia discussion on steps that the European Union and Ukraine might take to ameliorate negative effects that the association agreement might have for Ukraine-Russia trade—but not on the question of Ukraine’s right to decide for itself whether or not to sign the agreement.
And as for newly inaugurated President Petro Poroshenko's task when he makes his promised trip to eastern Ukraine:
When Poroshenko goes to Donetsk, a principal challenge will be persuading the population there that his presidency will look out for their political and economic interests, in the same way that it will watch out for the interests of western and central Ukraine. A package along the lines of the above elements—which build on points that oroshenko has already articulated—could help him win the confidence of the east.
Such a package would secure support from Europe and the United States. And it would give Poroshenko the clear high ground in dealing with Moscow.
Such a package would secure support from Europe and the United States. And it would give Poroshenko the clear high ground in dealing with Moscow.