Rare photos of how #Donetsk glitzy new airport looks like now: http://t.co/wMQNhzatjN pic.twitter.com/dgRgjm1fWw v @novostidnua #Ukraine
— Nikolaus von Twickel (@niktwick) June 27, 2014
My statement on signing of #EU’s Association Agreements with #Georgia, #Moldova #Ukraine #EUCO: http://t.co/OirgiPSQ7y
— AndersFogh Rasmussen (@AndersFoghR) June 27, 2014
Still more evidence that E Ukraine rebels are restoring only worst parts of the USSR: Lugansk creates its own KGB pic.twitter.com/i923R61ILK
— Alec Luhn (@ASLuhn) June 27, 2014
Today's Association Agreements are milestones in European history- people gave their lives for this closer link. pic.twitter.com/qO1N0vvQAY
— Herman Van Rompuy (@euHvR) June 27, 2014
Here are some more details on Putin's remarks concerning Ukraine's signing of an EU Association Agreement:
Russian President Vladimir Putin says Ukrainian society is "split" after being forced to choose between Europe and Russia.
His comments came shortly after Kyiv signed an agreement on closer ties with the European Union on June 27.
Putin said, "The anticonstitutional coup in Kyiv, the attempts to impose an artificial choice between Europe and Russia, have pushed [Ukrainian] society to a split, to a painful internal confrontation."
He called for a long-term cease-fire to allow for talks between Kyiv and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Putin said the ongoing violence has forced tens of thousands of Ukrainians to seek refuge, including in Russia.
Clashes have continued in the east despite a unilateral cease-fire declared by Kyiv a week ago.
Indirect talks on prolonging the cease-fire are set to take place on June 27 before the truce expires.
Putin talking about Ukraine now. Blaming it all on "imposition of an artificial choice"
— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) June 27, 2014
Deplores humanitarian crisis, attacks on journalists, calls for cessation of hostilities, moves on to other stuff.
— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) June 27, 2014
But while he talks about a split, he still calls it one country. Still talking reconciliation rather than secession.
— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) June 27, 2014
Some new information coming in regarding Ukrainian displaced persons and refugees, as reported by RFE/RL's news desk:
The UNHCR, the UN's refugee agency, says that some 16,400 people have fled their homes in eastern Ukraine in the past week in reaction to the deteriorating security situation.
The latest figures bring the number of displaced within the country to 54,000.
UNHCR spokeswoman Melissa Fleming told reporters in Geneva that the agency is "seeing a sharp rise in [internal] displacement in Ukraine."
She said another 110,000 people have left Ukraine for Russia so far this year, only 9,500 of whom have sought refugee status.
She said 700 others have gone to Poland, Belarus, the Czech Republic and Romania.
Russian President Vladimir Putin remarked on the crisis at the Kremlin on June 27, saying the violence in eastern Ukraine has forced tens of thousands of Ukrainians to seek refuge, including in Russia.
Ukraine might lose 40 bln USD after signing #AA as Russia will have to change conditions of trade -MP @Alexey_Pushkov http://t.co/1ofC9BQk0y
— Yulia Bragina (@YuliaSkyNews) June 27, 2014
Putin: “Attempts to impose... a false choice btwn Europe + Russia pushed (Ukr) society towards a schism, a painful internal confrontation”
— Tom Parfitt (@parfitt_tom) June 27, 2014
