09:52
24.3.2014
This short 1998 "New York Times" piece on the "father of containment" George F. Kennan has been doing the rounds on social media of late. It's easy to see why.
"I think the Russians will gradually react quite adversely (to NATO expanding) and it will affect their policies." http://t.co/P2hnVZlR5S
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) March 24, 2014
09:42
24.3.2014
As the West begins ratcheting up sanctions on Russia, Bloomberg is reporting that Moscow has hired Goldman Sachs to boost its image and encourage inward investment.
09:23
24.3.2014
Here's our newsdesk's overview of the latest diplomatic to-ing and fro-ing over the crisis in Ukraine:
Leaders of the G7 nations are meeting today to discuss what further measures to take after Russia's annexation of Crimea.
The G7 leaders, including U.S. President Barack Obama, will be meeting on the sidelines of a nuclear summit in the Netherlands.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are also expected to hold face-to-face talks on the Ukraine crisis on the sidelines of the nuclear summit in The Hague.
The United States and European Union have already imposed visa bans and asset freezes on some members of the inner circle of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said yesterday that the EU was united in its readiness to impose economic sanctions should the crisis escalate.
The G7 meeting comes a day after NATO’s top military commander, General Philip Breedlove, said Russian troops massed on Ukraine’s borders pose a threat to Moldova’s separatist Transdniester region.
"There is absolutely sufficient force postured on the eastern border of Ukraine to run to Transdniester, if the decision was made to do that. And that is very worrisome."
Breedlove accused Russia of acting more like an adversary than a partner.
"We think that what we see [is] a tool now of frozen of conflicts being used as a veto to EU and NATO membership," he said. "In other words, if Russia is worried about a country moving towards the West, the way to solve that is an incursion, a frozen conflict, and now no one wants to think about bringing nations aboard into NATO because it might mean conflict with Russia."
Deputy National Security Adviser Tony Blinken told CNN yesterday that Russia's troop buildup might be aimed at intimidating Ukraine's new pro-Western leaders, although he added Russia could invade the country's mainly Russian-speaking east.
On the same day, Ukraine’s acting Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya told U.S. TV that the chances of war between his country and Russia are growing.
Russia's Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said Russia was complying with international agreements limiting the number of troops near its border with Ukraine.
Moscow's ambassador to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, told the BBC that Russia did not have "expansion views." (dpa, AFP, Reuters)
The G7 leaders, including U.S. President Barack Obama, will be meeting on the sidelines of a nuclear summit in the Netherlands.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are also expected to hold face-to-face talks on the Ukraine crisis on the sidelines of the nuclear summit in The Hague.
The United States and European Union have already imposed visa bans and asset freezes on some members of the inner circle of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said yesterday that the EU was united in its readiness to impose economic sanctions should the crisis escalate.
The G7 meeting comes a day after NATO’s top military commander, General Philip Breedlove, said Russian troops massed on Ukraine’s borders pose a threat to Moldova’s separatist Transdniester region.
"There is absolutely sufficient force postured on the eastern border of Ukraine to run to Transdniester, if the decision was made to do that. And that is very worrisome."
Breedlove accused Russia of acting more like an adversary than a partner.
"We think that what we see [is] a tool now of frozen of conflicts being used as a veto to EU and NATO membership," he said. "In other words, if Russia is worried about a country moving towards the West, the way to solve that is an incursion, a frozen conflict, and now no one wants to think about bringing nations aboard into NATO because it might mean conflict with Russia."
Deputy National Security Adviser Tony Blinken told CNN yesterday that Russia's troop buildup might be aimed at intimidating Ukraine's new pro-Western leaders, although he added Russia could invade the country's mainly Russian-speaking east.
On the same day, Ukraine’s acting Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya told U.S. TV that the chances of war between his country and Russia are growing.
Russia's Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said Russia was complying with international agreements limiting the number of troops near its border with Ukraine.
Moscow's ambassador to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, told the BBC that Russia did not have "expansion views." (dpa, AFP, Reuters)
09:12
24.3.2014
Meanwhile, "The Daily Mail" has come up with its own inimitable take on the Transdniestrian leadership's desire to be taken under Russia's wing.
08:07
24.3.2014
Izvestia: Russia does not exclude ditching Visa & MasterCard, according to the head of Duma committee on financial markets
— Steve Rosenberg (@BBCSteveR) March 24, 2014
08:04
24.3.2014
A few more details are trickling in regarding the storming of the marine base in Feodosia:
Russian troops -- using stun grenades and firing automatic weapons -- forced their way inside a Ukrainian marine base in Feodosia early today.
There were no reports of injuries.
A Ukrainian military spokesman in Crimea, Vladislav Seleznyov, said the Feodosia compound is "full of Russian troops," who were assisted by helicopters and armored personnel carriers.
Seleznyov said on his Facebook page that Russian forces tied up the hands of an unknown number of Ukrainian marines, who were then transported off the base. (Reuters, AFP, BBC, Channel 5)
Russian troops -- using stun grenades and firing automatic weapons -- forced their way inside a Ukrainian marine base in Feodosia early today.
There were no reports of injuries.
A Ukrainian military spokesman in Crimea, Vladislav Seleznyov, said the Feodosia compound is "full of Russian troops," who were assisted by helicopters and armored personnel carriers.
Seleznyov said on his Facebook page that Russian forces tied up the hands of an unknown number of Ukrainian marines, who were then transported off the base. (Reuters, AFP, BBC, Channel 5)
07:54
24.3.2014
My latest -- Confronting Putin’s Russia http://t.co/JrFwWxRQBG
— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) March 24, 2014
07:53
24.3.2014
This latest update from our newsdesk highlights how Russia's annexation of Crimea could cause a few headaches for Moscow, at least in terms of supplying the peninsula with basic services, most of which currently come via Ukraine:
Power outages were reported in parts of Crimea late last night.
The regional power company blamed them on technical problems in a power line from the Ukrainian mainland to the Black Sea peninsula, which has been annexed by Moscow in a move rejected by Kyiv and the West.
Local residents said there was no electricity in several cities in Crimea, including parts of the regional capital, Simferopol.
Crimea's power provider Krymenergo said it introduced partial power cuts after a line operated by Ukraine's national electricity company, Ukrenergo, was hit by a technical fault and went down for repairs.
There's been no word from Ukrenegro on the matter.
Most of Crimea's electricity -- as well as water and food -- is supplied from the Ukrainian mainland.
A pro-Russian Crimean official, Rustam Temirgaliyev, accused Kyiv of reducing electricity to the peninsula to "blackmail" Moscow. (Reuters, ITAR-TASS)
Power outages were reported in parts of Crimea late last night.
The regional power company blamed them on technical problems in a power line from the Ukrainian mainland to the Black Sea peninsula, which has been annexed by Moscow in a move rejected by Kyiv and the West.
Local residents said there was no electricity in several cities in Crimea, including parts of the regional capital, Simferopol.
Crimea's power provider Krymenergo said it introduced partial power cuts after a line operated by Ukraine's national electricity company, Ukrenergo, was hit by a technical fault and went down for repairs.
There's been no word from Ukrenegro on the matter.
Most of Crimea's electricity -- as well as water and food -- is supplied from the Ukrainian mainland.
A pro-Russian Crimean official, Rustam Temirgaliyev, accused Kyiv of reducing electricity to the peninsula to "blackmail" Moscow. (Reuters, ITAR-TASS)
07:31
24.3.2014
Good morning. Reports are coming in that one of the few Crimean military installations still in Ukrainian hands has been stormed. RFE/RL's newsdesk has issued this item:
A Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman says Russian troops forced their way inside a Ukrainian marine base in Feodosia early today.
It was one of the few military facilities still flying the Ukrainian flag in Crimea.
Reports said shots had been fired but there were no reports of injuries.
A Ukrainian military spokesman in Crimea said the Russian troops had been assisted by military helicopters.
Few other details were immediately available.
Russia has been taking control of military bases across Crimea, and stormed two more Ukrainian military installations over the weekend.
Yesterday, Russia’s Defense Ministry said the Russian flag is now flying over 189 military installations in Crimea after Russian forces took control on of Belbek and another base at Novofedorovka, near Sevastopol, on March 22. (Reuters, Channel 5)
A Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman says Russian troops forced their way inside a Ukrainian marine base in Feodosia early today.
It was one of the few military facilities still flying the Ukrainian flag in Crimea.
Reports said shots had been fired but there were no reports of injuries.
A Ukrainian military spokesman in Crimea said the Russian troops had been assisted by military helicopters.
Few other details were immediately available.
Russia has been taking control of military bases across Crimea, and stormed two more Ukrainian military installations over the weekend.
Yesterday, Russia’s Defense Ministry said the Russian flag is now flying over 189 military installations in Crimea after Russian forces took control on of Belbek and another base at Novofedorovka, near Sevastopol, on March 22. (Reuters, Channel 5)
20:40
23.3.2014
Barring any dramatic developments, we are closing the live blog for today. Before we go, we'll leave you with a link to a dramatic firsthand account of the seizure of the Ukrainian "Slavutych" warship by pro-Russian forces in Sevastopol yesterday:
As Mykola delivered his monologue, abundantly peppered with obscene language, blows from a sledgehammer resounded in the background -- the captain's cabin was being broken open. There was an explosion. "They're using grenades," someone commented...