15:28
23.3.2014
Russian officials deny "very, very sizeable and very, very ready" military buildup along Ukrainian border: http://t.co/GApmTXkh0Q
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) March 23, 2014
14:51
23.3.2014
Footage from early this month in Simferopol shows gun-toting Russian soldier kissing and hugging a child.
14:35
23.3.2014
Interfax quoting Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuriy Prodan as saying that it is "technically impossible" for natural-gas prices for Ukrainian consumers to be raised by April 1, and that it won't happen before May 1.
Earlier this week Prodan expressed concerns that Russian gas supplies would be reduced, prompting a hike in gas prices.
UPDATE: According to Kanal 5, Prodan has estimated that the price Ukraine pays for Russian gas in the second quarter of this year could be around $387 per 1,000 cubic meters.
The television channel reports that talks with Russia's Gazprom could take place as early as next week. Following the ouster of Viktor Yanukovych, Russia rescinded price discounts worked out in December under which Ukraine was to pay about $268 per 1,000 cubic meters.
Under the terms of the basing treaty that allowed the Russian Black Fleet to use the Crimean port of Sevastopol, Ukraine was able to shave off about $100 per 1,000 cubic meters.
Earlier this week Prodan expressed concerns that Russian gas supplies would be reduced, prompting a hike in gas prices.
UPDATE: According to Kanal 5, Prodan has estimated that the price Ukraine pays for Russian gas in the second quarter of this year could be around $387 per 1,000 cubic meters.
The television channel reports that talks with Russia's Gazprom could take place as early as next week. Following the ouster of Viktor Yanukovych, Russia rescinded price discounts worked out in December under which Ukraine was to pay about $268 per 1,000 cubic meters.
Under the terms of the basing treaty that allowed the Russian Black Fleet to use the Crimean port of Sevastopol, Ukraine was able to shave off about $100 per 1,000 cubic meters.
14:28
23.3.2014
Interfax reports:
A decision on the withdrawal of some military units from Crimea will be made in the nearest future, Ukraine's acting defense minister Ihor Tenuykh told reporters on Sunday.
"A session was held and decisions were made on the withdrawal of some units, especially families. Decisions will be made in the nearest future," he said.
"A session was held and decisions were made on the withdrawal of some units, especially families. Decisions will be made in the nearest future," he said.
14:21
23.3.2014
#Crimea's rebel leader urged Russians across Ukraine on Sunday to rise up against Kiev's rule and welcome Kremlin forces - AFP
— Just Hovens Greve (@JustHovensGreve) March 23, 2014
13:58
23.3.2014
A billboard for Olympic Village Novogorsk, a luxury resort and residential complex being developed outside Moscow.
The billboard states: "For Some, A Peninsula. For Others -- A Whole Island."
The billboard states: "For Some, A Peninsula. For Others -- A Whole Island."
13:13
23.3.2014
http://t.co/3DD4JlY6vX Mar22:#Putin pirates hijack Запоріжжя (Zaporizhia),#Ukraine's only sub. #Crimea #Russia pic.twitter.com/SDoWn52kI1
— Ukrainian Updates (@Ukroblogger) March 23, 2014
13:06
23.3.2014
Our Brussels correspondent Rikard Jozwiak sent us this earlier:
The European Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht yesterday slammed Russia for not doing enough to live up to the agreements Moscow has signed since joining the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Speaking at the German Marshall Fund's Brussels Forum, De Gucht said that he could give an "endless row of examples" of trade commitments that Moscow has not lived up to since joining the trade club.
He also dismissed Russia as not being a big economy with the exception of its extractive sector.
He again called South Ossetia a "black hole" and blamed Russia for destabilizing Georgia.
The commissioner also said that Russia prevented a trade pact between Armenia and the EU last year by telling Yerevan not to expect Russian help over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave if Armenia signed the deal.
The European Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht yesterday slammed Russia for not doing enough to live up to the agreements Moscow has signed since joining the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Speaking at the German Marshall Fund's Brussels Forum, De Gucht said that he could give an "endless row of examples" of trade commitments that Moscow has not lived up to since joining the trade club.
He also dismissed Russia as not being a big economy with the exception of its extractive sector.
He again called South Ossetia a "black hole" and blamed Russia for destabilizing Georgia.
The commissioner also said that Russia prevented a trade pact between Armenia and the EU last year by telling Yerevan not to expect Russian help over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave if Armenia signed the deal.
12:48
23.3.2014
#Ukraine would need $4B+2yrs to go nuclear again, says MP Kaplin (#Klitschko's UDAR) http://t.co/2Sbfr8PL8X Tactical nuke capability?#Russia
— Ukrainian Updates (@Ukroblogger) March 23, 2014
12:39
23.3.2014
Ukrainian's Kanal 5 television quoting Aleskei Chalyy, the self-proclaimed mayor of Sevastopol, a saying all roadblocks outside the city have been removed.
Concrete-reinforced checkpoints were set up in February and were manned by pro-Russia forces who monitored all vehicle traffic going in and out of Sevastopol.
Following the city's accession to the Russian Federation and the subsequent establishment of a state border between Crimea and Ukraine, Kanal 5 cited Chalyy as saying, there was no need for roadblocks because far-right radicals would not be able to reach Sevastopol.
Concrete-reinforced checkpoints were set up in February and were manned by pro-Russia forces who monitored all vehicle traffic going in and out of Sevastopol.
Following the city's accession to the Russian Federation and the subsequent establishment of a state border between Crimea and Ukraine, Kanal 5 cited Chalyy as saying, there was no need for roadblocks because far-right radicals would not be able to reach Sevastopol.