13:33
21.3.2014
All parties should refrain from inflammatory rhetoric, Ban says, adding that such remarks "only generate emotions which may lead to uncontrollable situations."
13:36
21.3.2014
More excerpts from Ukrainian Prime Minister Yatsenyuk's remarks in Brussels after today's signing of the EU Association Agreement's political provisions, via our Brussels correspondent:
"I do believe that we need to consider the energy independence of the entire European Union. It is urgently needed to overhaul the entire energy security and energy policy in Ukraine mainly and we do understand that probably the EU is to speak in one strong, single voice, creating one united and single energy policy."
"The best way is to diversify energy flows and it is urgent for Ukraine to get a reversed flow as Russia violates all deals and all treaties signed between Ukraine and Russia. is to increase, is to double the price for natural gas, this is the way how Russia punish Ukraine for its European choice."
"You need to pay the price and we all need to pay the price for peace, stability, security and values. And I strongly believe that the EU acknowledges this, realizes this and the EU will speak in one single and strong voice protecting the values, defending the territorial integrity of Ukraine and protecting actually the EU itself, because God knows where is the final destination? Is it Ukraine or is the EU?"
"The best way to contain Russia is to impose real economic leverage over them. What is happening? They are selling gas and oil mainly to the European Union, then they take euros, dollars and pounds and buy armaments, armed vehicles, tanks and invade an independent country. This is the wrong business."
"The best way is to diversify energy flows and it is urgent for Ukraine to get a reversed flow as Russia violates all deals and all treaties signed between Ukraine and Russia. is to increase, is to double the price for natural gas, this is the way how Russia punish Ukraine for its European choice."
"You need to pay the price and we all need to pay the price for peace, stability, security and values. And I strongly believe that the EU acknowledges this, realizes this and the EU will speak in one single and strong voice protecting the values, defending the territorial integrity of Ukraine and protecting actually the EU itself, because God knows where is the final destination? Is it Ukraine or is the EU?"
"The best way to contain Russia is to impose real economic leverage over them. What is happening? They are selling gas and oil mainly to the European Union, then they take euros, dollars and pounds and buy armaments, armed vehicles, tanks and invade an independent country. This is the wrong business."
13:42
21.3.2014
Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov: Government will "stand behind" Russian individuals and businesses hit by U.S. sanctions.
13:53
21.3.2014
Ukraine's finance ministry will issue "war" bonds to fund the country's cash-strapped army.
#Ukraine Министерство финансов готовит выпуск "военных" облигаций http://t.co/U4ruUcVluk
— Новости Украины (@newsua) March 21, 2014
13:53
21.3.2014
Putin in televised quips, putting a brave face on the new U.S. sanctions that target a bank (Rossiya Bank) and Russian officials, including individuals said to be within his "inner circle."
"We have to stay away from them. They can compromise us."
"With regard to [the sanctions] against financial institutions, as far as I understand, it [affects] a middle-sized bank. I don't have a personal account there, but definitely on Monday I will open one."
"With regard to [the sanctions] against financial institutions, as far as I understand, it [affects] a middle-sized bank. I don't have a personal account there, but definitely on Monday I will open one."
14:02
21.3.2014
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, on a visit to Kyiv, reiterates his appeal for a peaceful resolution to the Crimea crisis on the basis of the UN Charter, "including respect for the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Ukraine."
14:06
21.3.2014
Leaders of the Crimean Tatar community's self-government body, the Mejlis, are calling on Crimea residents of any ethnicity to hold on to their Ukrainian passports. Mejlis member Remzi Ilyasov told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service on March 20 in Simferopol that Crimean Tatars are being forced to adopt Russian citizenship.
14:18
21.3.2014
Ukrainian PM @Yatsenyuk_AP assured me that his government answers people's call for open & modern #Ukraine. Reform, inclusiveness essential.
— Herman Van Rompuy (@euHvR) March 21, 2014
14:25
21.3.2014
From our news desk via AFP and Reuters:
France is suspending most of its military cooperation with Russia in response to Moscow's intervention in Ukraine. Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, speaking on a visit to Estonia, also said France is ready to send four fighter jets to Poland and the Baltic states to join NATO air patrols. The United States has already deployed extra fighter aircraft to Poland. Le Drian said the suspension of ties with Russia would concern joint military exercises. He did not address the future of French contracts to supply Mistral helicopter carriers to Russia but on March 20 had said France would not make a decision on the warships until October. The French defense chief’s announcement came as Germany’s Economy Ministry said the government had decided to suspend all defense-related exports to Russia.
14:33
21.3.2014
Crimea's annexation complete. Putin has appointed his envoy to Crimea: Oleg Belavintsev, a member of the board of directors of state-run defense ministry company Oboronservis and the head of a firm administering defense ministry housing.
Россия завершила аннексию Крыма; Путин назначил там своего полпреда http://t.co/Lr9QmAMblz
— Радио Свобода (@SvobodaRadio) March 21, 2014