13:09
19.3.2014
At the same press conference in Vilnius, U.S. President Joe Biden says Russia is on a "dark path" to isolation, says "we will respond to any aggression" against NATO allies.
13:10
19.3.2014
A spokesman for Russian forces in Crimea confirms that the commander of the Ukrainian Navy, Admiral Serhiy Hayduk, has been detained. Hayduk was earlier seen leaving the base and reports said he was then driven away by officers of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB).
13:16
19.3.2014
In Vilnius, Biden also said U.S. President Barack Obama would want to use an upcoming NATO summit in Wales to ensure members can meet Article 5 collective-defense commitments.
13:25
19.3.2014
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry doesn't confirm to RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service that Admiral Serhiy Hayduk, commander of the navy, is in Russian hands, but does acknowledge that Kyiv is trying to determine his whereabouts.
Міноборони з’ясовує місце перебування командувача ВМС України Сергія Гайдука http://t.co/3vTceS3kdt
— Радіо Свобода (@radiosvoboda) March 19, 2014
13:26
19.3.2014
"Hancuffed and a bag over the head." RFE/RL Ukrainian Service correspondent Levko Stek recounts his brief kidnapping by a group of armed men in Crimea.
У наручниках і з мішком на голові – бахчисарайські будні. про своє викрадення розповів журналіст Радіо Свобода http://t.co/PChZsJYKbq
— Радіо Свобода (@radiosvoboda) March 19, 2014
13:32
19.3.2014
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier calls in Berlin for a quick mandate for a mission of OSCE observers to Ukraine, saying: "We need an observer mission now and in my conversations this morning I said agreement on a mandate must take place within the next 24 hours. That way, the first observers -- among them also 20 Germans who could leave tomorrow -- could start immediately tomorrow."
He adds that "it makes no sense to send an observer mission the week after the next or next month."
He adds that "it makes no sense to send an observer mission the week after the next or next month."
13:33
19.3.2014
Donations are being collected for the family of Reshat Ametov, the Crimean Tatar whose body was found last week near Simferopol with signs of torture. Ametov leaves behind a wife and three small children.
13:36
19.3.2014
Putin orders Crimea pensions raised to Russian levels http://t.co/goDJe2mVWh | @tvrain
— Russian Police Watch (@RusPoliceWatch) March 19, 2014
13:36
19.3.2014
RFE/RL Brussels correspondent Rikard Jozwiak quotes EU Economic Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn on an EU decision to provide further aid to Ukraine.
"Today we adopted a proposal to provide Ukraine with a further 1 billion euros in micro-financial assistance (MFA) in addition to the already decided and available loan of MFA of 610 million euros," Rehn said.
"Today we adopted a proposal to provide Ukraine with a further 1 billion euros in micro-financial assistance (MFA) in addition to the already decided and available loan of MFA of 610 million euros," Rehn said.
13:38
19.3.2014
Reuters quotes from a Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council statement saying it has opened a session devoted to "the state of Ukraine's national security and measures to neutralize foreign and domestic political threats."