20:41
13.6.2014
Sunset in Donetsk pic.twitter.com/B36dw6Wf4S
— Paul Gypteau (@paulgypteau) June 13, 2014
20:37
13.6.2014
Just now on Russian state TV: With this tank, #Kremlin claims, #Ukraine invaded Russian territory pic.twitter.com/qkk083dZm2
— MareikeAden (@MareikeAden) June 13, 2014
18:24
13.6.2014
Here's an item from our news desk on Anders Fogh Rasmussen's comments concerning reports of Russian tanks being used by separatists in eastern Ukraine:
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said that if reports that pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine are acquiring heavy weapons from Russia, including tanks, are confirmed, it would mark a "serious escalation" of the crisis.
Rasmussen's comments, in a statement today, came after Ukraine accused Russia of allowing pro-Russian separatists fighting government forces to bring in three tanks and other military vehicles across the border into eastern Ukraine.
President Petro Poroshenko told Russian President Vladimir Putin in their first official telephone conversation yesterday that the situation was "unacceptable."
Russia did not immediately respond to Kyiv's accusations.
Nevertheless, Putin's spokesman said today that the president had ordered the Foreign Ministry to launch a formal complaint with Ukraine after a Ukrainian armored vehicle was found on Russian territory, close to the border with Ukraine's Luhansk region.
Rasmussen's comments, in a statement today, came after Ukraine accused Russia of allowing pro-Russian separatists fighting government forces to bring in three tanks and other military vehicles across the border into eastern Ukraine.
President Petro Poroshenko told Russian President Vladimir Putin in their first official telephone conversation yesterday that the situation was "unacceptable."
Russia did not immediately respond to Kyiv's accusations.
Nevertheless, Putin's spokesman said today that the president had ordered the Foreign Ministry to launch a formal complaint with Ukraine after a Ukrainian armored vehicle was found on Russian territory, close to the border with Ukraine's Luhansk region.
17:44
13.6.2014
It seems the Ukraine crisis has caused some collateral damage in the sporting world, as reported by RFE/RL's news desk.
Europe's basketball federation says its basketball championship next year will not take place in Ukraine because of the continued instability in the country.
The European basketball governing body, FIBA Europe, announced its decision to relocate EuroBasket 2015 from Ukraine in a statement today.
It did not say which country or countries would now host the biennial tournament.
However, FIBA Europe said it will "start negotiations immediately" with Ukraine on the possibility of the country hosting the 2017 championship.
Following Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in March, tournament director Markiyan Lubkivsky said that hosting the event was no longer possible, but Ukrainian and European basketball authorities kept delaying a final decision, hoping the political situation would stabilize.
The European basketball governing body, FIBA Europe, announced its decision to relocate EuroBasket 2015 from Ukraine in a statement today.
It did not say which country or countries would now host the biennial tournament.
However, FIBA Europe said it will "start negotiations immediately" with Ukraine on the possibility of the country hosting the 2017 championship.
Following Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in March, tournament director Markiyan Lubkivsky said that hosting the event was no longer possible, but Ukrainian and European basketball authorities kept delaying a final decision, hoping the political situation would stabilize.
16:18
13.6.2014
Reuters: #NATO says #Russian tanks in #Ukraine would be serious escalation http://t.co/2cMUCLpHw5
— Kyiv Post (@KyivPost) June 13, 2014
16:15
13.6.2014
RFE/RL's multimedia department has issued this dramatic Reuters footage of pro-Ukrainian forces in action against pro-Russian separatists in the port city of Mariupol:
15:36
13.6.2014
Insane armour on the truck of the pro-Kiev fighters in Mariupol pic.twitter.com/eewnCTKk3a
— Daniel Sandford (@BBCDanielS) June 13, 2014
14:36
13.6.2014
Pro-Kremlin media entrepreneur Konstantin Rykov has just posted this tweet of Russia Day in Yalta yesterday. "A picture tells a thousand words," he says.
День России в Ялте. Вместо тысячи слов pic.twitter.com/LXAooTD4dJ
— Константин Рыков (@rykov) June 13, 2014
14:23
13.6.2014
Oh dear. Vladimir Zhirinovsky is wearing military uniform today
— Daniel Sandford (@BBCDanielS) June 13, 2014
14:23
13.6.2014
Here are some details of a gas-related development from RFE/RL's news desk:
The head of Ukraine's gas company has said that Kyiv may pay some of its overdue payment to Gazprom on June 13 if Russia agrees to charge $326 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas for 18 months.
Naftohaz chief Andrei Kobolev told reporters in Kyiv today that his corporation was "prepared to pay $1.9 billion if we make the deal."
Kobolev said the price of $326 per 1,000 cubic meters -- higher than what Kyiv wants to pay and lower than what Russia demands -- was proposed by the European Commission during recent talks.
Russia has threatened to cut off supplies to Ukraine if it fails to start paying off billions of dollars in debt by June 16.
Meanwhile, EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger said he hopes gas talks between Russia and Ukraine will resume tomorrow.
Naftohaz chief Andrei Kobolev told reporters in Kyiv today that his corporation was "prepared to pay $1.9 billion if we make the deal."
Kobolev said the price of $326 per 1,000 cubic meters -- higher than what Kyiv wants to pay and lower than what Russia demands -- was proposed by the European Commission during recent talks.
Russia has threatened to cut off supplies to Ukraine if it fails to start paying off billions of dollars in debt by June 16.
Meanwhile, EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger said he hopes gas talks between Russia and Ukraine will resume tomorrow.