16:04
3.3.2014
So the IMF is due in Ukraine tomorrow:
A team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is scheduled to arrive in Kyiv on March 4 to discuss urgent financial support for Ukraine.
The IMF said Monday the "fact-finding mission" would discuss reforms Ukraine would need to implement to qualify for IMF aid.
The IMF team is tentatively scheduled to stay in Ukraine until March 14. The IMF move comes after Russia cancelled a deal from last year that would have seen Moscow extend some $15 billion to Kyiv to prop the Ukrainian economy.
The Kremlin suspended the deal after former President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted late last month. Yanukovych and Russian President Vladimir Putin negotiated the Russian financial package last December.
The IMF said Monday the "fact-finding mission" would discuss reforms Ukraine would need to implement to qualify for IMF aid.
The IMF team is tentatively scheduled to stay in Ukraine until March 14. The IMF move comes after Russia cancelled a deal from last year that would have seen Moscow extend some $15 billion to Kyiv to prop the Ukrainian economy.
The Kremlin suspended the deal after former President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted late last month. Yanukovych and Russian President Vladimir Putin negotiated the Russian financial package last December.
16:09
3.3.2014
We saw yesterday how Russia reacted to fairly meager antiwar demos in Moscow -- by arresting protesters.
Now, according to "The Moscow Times," the Russian authorities are blocking websites linked to the Ukrainian protest movement.
Now, according to "The Moscow Times," the Russian authorities are blocking websites linked to the Ukrainian protest movement.
Roskomnadzor said in a statement published online Monday that it had been ordered by the general prosecutor's office to shut down the pages on Russia's leading social media website, Vkontakte. The agency said the groups "propagandized the activity of Ukrainian nationalist groups," and accused them of encouraging "terrorist activity" and "participation in unsanctioned mass actions."
The largest pro-demonstration group, which has more than 500,000 members, was not accessible to users in Russia on Monday.
The largest pro-demonstration group, which has more than 500,000 members, was not accessible to users in Russia on Monday.
16:22
3.3.2014
Rus troops during shift change outside #Privolnoye military base in #Crimea. Hand signals only way they communicate. pic.twitter.com/9xkm312CkT
— ЄВРОМАЙДАН (@euromaidan) March 3, 2014
16:25
3.3.2014
The top U.S. diplomat in Europe says that "advance teams" from the OSCE will start deploying in Ukraine later today, although Russian objections mean that a full-scale mission has yet to be agreed on. From the wires:
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland, talking in Vienna on the sidelines of a special meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, called on Russia "to join that consensus, make the right choice, and pull back its forces" from Ukraine.
Earlier Monday, the U.S. envoy to the OSCE, Daniel Baer said the pan-European rights body should "immediately" send an observer mission to Ukraine.
Earlier Monday, the U.S. envoy to the OSCE, Daniel Baer said the pan-European rights body should "immediately" send an observer mission to Ukraine.
16:32
3.3.2014
BREAKING. The commander of Russia's Black Sea Fleet Aleksandr Vitko has given Ukrainian military forces in Crimea until 05:00 local time (04:00 Prague Time) Tuesday to surrender or bases in the Crimea would be stormed. (Via Interfax and Ukrainskaya Pravda)
17:07
3.3.2014
Getting more confirmation on the ultimatum from the Black Sea Fleet.
BBC reports Ukraine defense ministry press office confirms ultimatum from Russia's Black Sea Fleet http://t.co/BmIMfHzQCB
— Bret Barrowman (@bbarrowm) March 3, 2014
17:45
3.3.2014
Some economic ripples in Central Europe.
The Czech defense minister has said he couldn't imagine Russia involved with the country's Temelin nuclear power plant because Russia is no longer a democratic state.
A Russian consortium is bidding against Westinghouse for a tender to build new reactors at the plant.
Will Hungary do the same?
The Czech defense minister has said he couldn't imagine Russia involved with the country's Temelin nuclear power plant because Russia is no longer a democratic state.
A Russian consortium is bidding against Westinghouse for a tender to build new reactors at the plant.
Will Hungary do the same?
18:46
3.3.2014
Russia has denied reports of an ultimatum for tomorrow morning. We have updated our story accordingly.
18:50
3.3.2014
And now this ultimatum to Ukraine to surrender - denied by Moscow. But what to believe when Moscow feeds us such a diet of disinformation
— Robert Parsons (@RobParsonsF24) March 3, 2014
19:54
3.3.2014
Tweet just posted on verified @navalny account in his wife's name reports silenced opposition leader says: "No War!" https://t.co/W8nVWTWvMx
— Robert Mackey (@RobertMackey) March 3, 2014