With Russia meddling in Ukraine and Moldova fearful of Kremlin-backed agitation -- or worse -- in Transdniester, U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden has expressed support for Georgia's desire to join NATO. Biden's remarks came in a telephone conversation with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili today, the White House said.
Meanwhile, Georgians have expressed their solidarity with Ukrainians in this YouTube video, shared by Espreso.TV yesterday:
Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius says Mykola Zelenec, Lithuania's honorary consul in eastern Ukraine's Luhansk, has been kidnapped and killed by the pro-Russian rebels there.
Linkevicius met earlier today with Ukrainian President Poroshenko.
Ukrainian daredevil "Mustang Wanted" has claimed via Facebook to be the person who painted the "seven sisters" spire in Moscow in Ukrainian blue and raised the Ukrainian flag. He says his confession "is aimed at liberation of those innocent Russians accused of hooliganism and who have every chance of falling victim to the well-known fairness of Russian justice."
He suggests he will turn himself in to Russian authorities "in exchange for the release of a brave Ukrainian girl -- Nadya Savchenko," a reference to a Ukrainian military pilot who is in Russian custody after being kidnapped by separatists; she has been accused by Russian authorities of complicity in the killing during fighting in eastern Ukraine of two Russian journalists.
He says he did the painting and "raised the flag of independent Ukraine" in "a fit of sincere patriotic sentiment." He adds that he has photos and video evidence to prove his claim. He says "it took me almost all night and I finished about 6 am."
Four young Russians who were said to have been carrying climbing gear were detained and accused of the stunt overnight on August 19-20.
Here's our newsroom summary of PM Yatsenyuk's warnings about Ukraine's gas situation in a televised interview today:
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said his country would not make it through this winter without Russian gas.
Yatsenyuk said his country requires an additional 5 billion cubic meters of Russian gas.
The prime minister also said the Ukrainian government has put aside some $3.1 billion to purchase gas this winter.
Russia suspended supplies of gas to Ukraine in mid-June citing Ukraine's failure to pay for supplies already received.
Ukraine has been trying to arrange supplies from the European Union to replace the gas it was purchasing from Russia.
Yatsenyuk also spoke about the Kremlin's support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.
He said that support was a sign Russia could not reconcile itself to the fact Ukraine had chosen a political path that brings the country closer to the European Union.
Russia denies arming separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Based on reporting by Reuters and Interfax
"Around 20 trucks entered Luhansk from the direction of the Russian border. These lorries were seen in the center of the city," an official from the Kyiv-loyal regional administration said on condition of anonymity. -- AFP
A statement from NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen:
I condemn the entry of a Russian so-called humanitarian convoy into Ukrainian territory without the consent of the Ukrainian authorities and without any involvement of the International Committee of the Red Cross. This is a blatant breach of Russia’s international commitments, including those made recently in Berlin and Geneva, and a further violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty by Russia. It can only deepen the crisis in the region, which Russia itself has created and has continued to fuel. The disregard of international humanitarian principles raises further questions about whether the true purpose of the aid convoy is to support civilians or to resupply armed separatists.
These developments are even more worrying as they coincide with a major escalation in Russian military involvement in Eastern Ukraine since mid-August, including the use of Russian forces.
He goes on to accuse Russia of "continu[ing] to escalate" the situation in Ukraine.
Correspondent Charles Recknagel interviewed a former dean of the New Economics School in Moscow, Sergei Guriyev, on the Russian ban on Western foods.
Interview: Economist Says Food Ban 'Certainly Against Russian Economic Interests'
From AFP:
UEFA said that the decision to punish Crimean clubs playing in the Russian league had been made by its emergency panel "in light of the complex and difficult factual and political considerations, and until an agreed solution can be found".