09:40
14.3.2014
Russia's Foreign Ministry has accused the White House of denying Russian journalists access to a press event in the Oval Office after talks Wednesday between U.S. President Barack Obama and Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk.
The statement -- labeled a "commentary" -- from Foreign Ministry representative Aleksandr Lukashevich said, "It seems that in Washington, where they so love to talk about freedom of speech and the rights of journalists, they are not prepared to follow these principles themselves."
Lukashevich's statement continued, "They do not want to hear questions that do not fit the scenario developed beforehand, for example, about the crimes of neo-Nazis from the 'Right Sector,' that stand behind the 'government' of A. Yatsenyuk, in the White House."
Obama answered only one question posed by a reporter at the press event Wednesday, which was attended by a dozen or so journalists and photographers.
Lukashevich's statement continued, "They do not want to hear questions that do not fit the scenario developed beforehand, for example, about the crimes of neo-Nazis from the 'Right Sector,' that stand behind the 'government' of A. Yatsenyuk, in the White House."
Obama answered only one question posed by a reporter at the press event Wednesday, which was attended by a dozen or so journalists and photographers.
09:38
14.3.2014
Simon Ostrovsky at Vice News is doing the most amazing, fearless video reporting from Ukraine.
Check out all the dispatches here.
His colleague Robert King was on the streets of Donetsk last night, when a large group of pro-Russian activists attacked a group of pro-Ukrainian demonstrators. One protester was reportedly killed.
Check out all the dispatches here.
His colleague Robert King was on the streets of Donetsk last night, when a large group of pro-Russian activists attacked a group of pro-Ukrainian demonstrators. One protester was reportedly killed.
09:22
14.3.2014
In additon to the meeting between John Kerry and Sergei Lavrov, the International Monetary Fund will start talks with the Ukrainian government on an economic reform program. From the agencies:
A team from the IMF is now in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, gathering data about the government's finances.
In a statement, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said the IMF will work with Ukrainian authorities "to develop an economic reform program that will result in sound economic governance and sustainable growth, while protecting the vulnerable in society."
She said the mission should finish its work by March 21. Ukrainian officials have said the country is nearing bankruptcy.
IMF support is widely seen as critical to Kyiv's finances and to getting its economy on a growth track. In related news, Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird has said the country will offer nearly $200 million in aid to Ukraine to help promote sustainable economic growth and good governance.
In a statement, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said the IMF will work with Ukrainian authorities "to develop an economic reform program that will result in sound economic governance and sustainable growth, while protecting the vulnerable in society."
She said the mission should finish its work by March 21. Ukrainian officials have said the country is nearing bankruptcy.
IMF support is widely seen as critical to Kyiv's finances and to getting its economy on a growth track. In related news, Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird has said the country will offer nearly $200 million in aid to Ukraine to help promote sustainable economic growth and good governance.
22:03
13.3.2014
We're winding up the live blog for another day. Join us tomorrow.
21:47
13.3.2014
UN envoy Vitaly Churkin has been speaking the UN Security Council.
Amb Churkin: Kiev itself is splitting its country into two parts. LIVE: http://t.co/aa1YbCTjFr #UNSC
— RT (@RT_com) March 13, 2014
#Churkin: Actions by the Russian Black Fleet in #Crimea are rightful
— Myroslava Petsa (@myroslavapetsa) March 13, 2014
If Churkin at UN any guide, think we can preview, Kerry is not going to get anything from meeting with Lavrov tomorrow.
— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) March 13, 2014
21:24
13.3.2014
Video allegedly shows clashes b/t pro-Russian & pro-Ukrainian crowds in #Donetsk tonight. @Reuters reports 1 killed. http://t.co/THSrUkMIrD
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) March 13, 2014
21:22
13.3.2014
More from the wires on the protester killed in Donetsk:
Reports from the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk say one person has been killed in clashes between people chanting pro-Russia slogans and others protesting against Moscow's takeover of Crimea.
Several other people were taken to the hospital with injuries.
The casualties were reported by local health officials.
Reports said there were several hundred protesters on both sides gathered on a central square in the industrial city when the clashes took place.
Police attempted to keep the two crowds apart but protesters broke through the police cordon.
Several other people were taken to the hospital with injuries.
The casualties were reported by local health officials.
Reports said there were several hundred protesters on both sides gathered on a central square in the industrial city when the clashes took place.
Police attempted to keep the two crowds apart but protesters broke through the police cordon.
21:11
13.3.2014
Massive riot scale street fights in Donetsk between pro-Ukraine nationalists and pro-Russia nationalists
— Mark Ames (@MarkAmesExiled) March 13, 2014
21:07
13.3.2014
BREAKING: Meanwhile, away from the UN and back in Ukraine, reports from the eastern city of Donetsk say one person has been killed in clashes between people chanting pro-Russia slogans and others protesting against Moscow's takeover of Crimea.
21:02
13.3.2014
Some highlights from Yatsenyuk's comments at the UN Security Council:
"We urge [the] Russian Federation to pull back its military forces deployed in Crimea to barracks and to start real talks and negotiations in order to tackle this conflict."
"The way our Russian neighbors -- and I believe that if we start real talks with Russia, they could be real partners -- acted, undermines the entire global security and nuclear non-proliferation program. As after these actions, it will be very difficult to convince anyone in the globe not to have nuclear weapon."
"I would like to reiterate again that the Ukrainian government is absolutely open, we want to have talks. We don't want to have any kind of military aggression."
"The way our Russian neighbors -- and I believe that if we start real talks with Russia, they could be real partners -- acted, undermines the entire global security and nuclear non-proliferation program. As after these actions, it will be very difficult to convince anyone in the globe not to have nuclear weapon."
"I would like to reiterate again that the Ukrainian government is absolutely open, we want to have talks. We don't want to have any kind of military aggression."