09:01
23.2.2014
Good morning. Luke Allnutt (@lukeallnutt) here, kicking off the Ukraine live blog. It was a momentous day yesterday with parliament voting to dismiss Yanukovych and Yulia Tymoshenko freed from prison before speaking to the crowd on Kyiv's Independence Square.
Things are looking a little quieter this morning. So much is still unknown, though. Where is Yanukovych? How will pro-Yanukovych or pro-Russian regions react to the transitioning power in Kyiv? How will Russia react?
What has been amazing is just how quickly this story has moved, with many surprises and twists and turns along the way. Making any predictions is a fool's game.
Things are looking a little quieter this morning. So much is still unknown, though. Where is Yanukovych? How will pro-Yanukovych or pro-Russian regions react to the transitioning power in Kyiv? How will Russia react?
What has been amazing is just how quickly this story has moved, with many surprises and twists and turns along the way. Making any predictions is a fool's game.
09:30
23.2.2014
Couple of pieces for your Sunday morning reading.
Fyodor Lukyanov, the editor in chief of the journal "Russia in Global Affairs," looks at how Ukraine is viewed from Moscow. Some highlights:
Also, Alexander Motyl, who we spoke to last week, argues in "Foreign Policy" that viewing Ukraine through the prism of an East-West divide is plain wrong.
This means that language preference does not as easily correlate with cultural preferences (Russia versus the West) or political choices (Yanukovych versus the democrats), as the East-West paradigm suggests.
In sum, the image of two competing blocs is just dead wrong. Ukraine happens to be an extremely diverse place, with a range of languages, cultures, identities, and political preferences throughout the country.
Fyodor Lukyanov, the editor in chief of the journal "Russia in Global Affairs," looks at how Ukraine is viewed from Moscow. Some highlights:
In [Putin's] view, unrest must be suppressed before it turns into a huge fire. Unrest produces nothing but chaos. A weak state drives itself into a trap. Once a state falters, external forces will charge through the breach and start shattering it until it falls. The West is destructive. It is either unable to understand the complexity of the situation and acts in a primitive way, designating "good" and "bad" players, or it deliberately destroys undesirable systems. The result is always the same - things get worse. The desire to limit Russian influence and hinder Moscow's initiatives is the invariable imperative of the Western policy.
Moscow believes that regime change would thrust Ukraine into anarchy and that it may collapse as a state in the end. It considers the Ukrainian political class, regardless of its political views, irresponsible and unprofessional. Ukrainian "peacetime" politics is reduced to endless intrigues of oligarchic groups, which have no idea about strategy.
Today Moscow is not seeking the collapse of Ukraine and is taking no special steps in this direction. But if the internal conflict escalates, Russia may opt to establish closer contacts with pro-Russian regions in eastern and south-eastern Ukraine. Russia is confident that the West's interference and unilateral support for the opposition brings such a scenario closer.
Moscow believes that regime change would thrust Ukraine into anarchy and that it may collapse as a state in the end. It considers the Ukrainian political class, regardless of its political views, irresponsible and unprofessional. Ukrainian "peacetime" politics is reduced to endless intrigues of oligarchic groups, which have no idea about strategy.
Today Moscow is not seeking the collapse of Ukraine and is taking no special steps in this direction. But if the internal conflict escalates, Russia may opt to establish closer contacts with pro-Russian regions in eastern and south-eastern Ukraine. Russia is confident that the West's interference and unilateral support for the opposition brings such a scenario closer.
Also, Alexander Motyl, who we spoke to last week, argues in "Foreign Policy" that viewing Ukraine through the prism of an East-West divide is plain wrong.
This means that language preference does not as easily correlate with cultural preferences (Russia versus the West) or political choices (Yanukovych versus the democrats), as the East-West paradigm suggests.
In sum, the image of two competing blocs is just dead wrong. Ukraine happens to be an extremely diverse place, with a range of languages, cultures, identities, and political preferences throughout the country.
09:32
23.2.2014
The three candidates for PM post are Yulia #Tymoshenko, Petro #Poroshenko and Arseniy #Yatsenyuk, MP Mykola Tomenko confirms
— Myroslava Petsa (@myroslavapetsa) February 23, 2014
09:36
23.2.2014
"Washington Post" columnist and regional expert Anne Applebaum's tweet sums up what many in Ukraine, and beyond, are thinking.
Am happy for her family that Tymoshenko is home. Am worried for her country that she will return to politics. She helped cause this crisis.
— Anne Applebaum (@anneapplebaum) February 23, 2014
09:46
23.2.2014
Members of the Berkut have reportedly used their official VKontakte page to appeal to families in Belarus and Russia to shelter them.
Berkut officers/families reportedly seeking asylum in Russia, Belarus: http://t.co/nxLMxQry9y
— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) February 23, 2014
09:47
23.2.2014
Another car collection of ex-President Yanukovych discovered. This, an all black fleet. via @mefimus pic.twitter.com/PkpuOXJO3R #ukraine
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 23, 2014
10:09
23.2.2014
CCTV footage of Yanukovych apparently fleeing.
10:25
23.2.2014
With the status of Russia's $15 billion bailout unknown, the U.S. and IMF say they are ready to help. From AFP and ITAR-TASS:
The United States and the International Monetary Fund have offered to help Ukraine rebuild its economy a day after Ukraine’s parliament voted to oust President Viktor Yanukovych.
Fears that Ukraine’s debt-laden economy is facing default have sparked panic on markets – with Ukraine’s bond yields rising sharply and its hryvnia currency losing a tenth of its value in recent weeks.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew pledged support, provided reforms are carried out, after he met Sunday with Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Sydney.
IMF chief Christine Lagarde said the IMF was also ready to assist, if Ukrainian authorities were to ask for IMF support.
Siluanov said Sunday that Russia will decide whether to disburse the next tranche of a $15 billion bailout it offered to Yanukovych soon after Ukraine forms a new government.
Fears that Ukraine’s debt-laden economy is facing default have sparked panic on markets – with Ukraine’s bond yields rising sharply and its hryvnia currency losing a tenth of its value in recent weeks.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew pledged support, provided reforms are carried out, after he met Sunday with Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Sydney.
IMF chief Christine Lagarde said the IMF was also ready to assist, if Ukrainian authorities were to ask for IMF support.
Siluanov said Sunday that Russia will decide whether to disburse the next tranche of a $15 billion bailout it offered to Yanukovych soon after Ukraine forms a new government.
11:18
23.2.2014
Fascinating exchange between some Euromaidan security activists and opposition leaders Arseniy Yatsenyuk and Yulia Tymoshenko, which encapsulates the divide and suspicions between the street and Ukraine's political opposition.
Self Defense 1: We are a little concerned about how you drove in here. You have guards, we understand, but we want to build a new Ukraine
Yatsenyuk: You are right.
Self Defense 1: …where there won’t be any cronies…
Yatesnyuk: I agree with you.
Self Defense 1: We set up a general entrance over there; you dashed in here, ok. We could have asked you to leave.
Yatsenyuk: I will know next time.
Self defense: That is, we want to remind you about motorcades and all that.
Yatsenyuk: I completely agree with you.
Self defense: We are all Ukrainian people, and the law is the same for everyone.
Yatsenyuk: Thank you.
Self Defense 2: And one more question, may I? Look, your people were driving in, I won’t say who…
Yatsenyuk: Tell me who.
Others: The press secretary…
Self Defense 2: …And she is telling our person who’s twice her age, “You are bullshitting me.” Excuse me, we are not bullshitting anyone.
Yatsenyuk: I will tell you that…
Self Defense 2: We could simply not let her in, she would have to walk after all this.
Yatsenyuk: We will, we will punish everyone…
Self Defense 2: Simply, the attitude toward the people should be respectful.
Yatsenyuk: Absolutely…
Self Defense 2: You are not yet in power, and are already condescending.
Yatsenyuk: Absolutely. And for this you were standing [in Maidan], you were fighting…
Voice: Not YOU – WE did.
Yatsenyuk: Yes, you, we, of course.
Self-Defense stopping Tymoshenko’s car: “Stop, stop, stop.”
Voice: Yulia Volodymyrivna, remember who carried out this revolution, don’t forget!
Tymoshenko: Yes, yes.
Voice: Yulia, don’t let people down, I’m begging you!
Tymoshenko: By no means, believe me. This is what’s most important to me, you should know this. Glory to Ukraine!
Voices: Glory to heroes!
Self Defense: Let them go now.
Shouts “Glory to Ukraine! Glory to Heroes!” Singing the anthem.
Self Defense 1: …where there won’t be any cronies…
Yatesnyuk: I agree with you.
Self Defense 1: We set up a general entrance over there; you dashed in here, ok. We could have asked you to leave.
Yatsenyuk: I will know next time.
Self defense: That is, we want to remind you about motorcades and all that.
Yatsenyuk: I completely agree with you.
Self defense: We are all Ukrainian people, and the law is the same for everyone.
Yatsenyuk: Thank you.
Self Defense 2: And one more question, may I? Look, your people were driving in, I won’t say who…
Yatsenyuk: Tell me who.
Others: The press secretary…
Self Defense 2: …And she is telling our person who’s twice her age, “You are bullshitting me.” Excuse me, we are not bullshitting anyone.
Yatsenyuk: I will tell you that…
Self Defense 2: We could simply not let her in, she would have to walk after all this.
Yatsenyuk: We will, we will punish everyone…
Self Defense 2: Simply, the attitude toward the people should be respectful.
Yatsenyuk: Absolutely…
Self Defense 2: You are not yet in power, and are already condescending.
Yatsenyuk: Absolutely. And for this you were standing [in Maidan], you were fighting…
Voice: Not YOU – WE did.
Yatsenyuk: Yes, you, we, of course.
Self-Defense stopping Tymoshenko’s car: “Stop, stop, stop.”
Voice: Yulia Volodymyrivna, remember who carried out this revolution, don’t forget!
Tymoshenko: Yes, yes.
Voice: Yulia, don’t let people down, I’m begging you!
Tymoshenko: By no means, believe me. This is what’s most important to me, you should know this. Glory to Ukraine!
Voices: Glory to heroes!
Self Defense: Let them go now.
Shouts “Glory to Ukraine! Glory to Heroes!” Singing the anthem.
Translation provided by Euromaidan PR
11:36
23.2.2014
Asked Klitschko if he'll push to prosecute Yanukovych: 'We will consider issue & compile list of ppl responsible for giving orders to kill.'
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 23, 2014