14:59
25.3.2014
Uzbekistan's Foreign Ministry weighs in on the Ukraine crisis:
The Republic of Uzbekistan... firmly and invariably adheres to the position on "settling the international disputes by peaceful means, refraining in internaitonal relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state."
It adds: ... the only reasonable way out is to hold direct bilateral negotiations to seek the mutually acceptable compromise settlement of problems.
The Republic of Uzbekistan... firmly and invariably adheres to the position on "settling the international disputes by peaceful means, refraining in internaitonal relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state."
It adds: ... the only reasonable way out is to hold direct bilateral negotiations to seek the mutually acceptable compromise settlement of problems.
15:22
25.3.2014
Sacked earlier today, former acting Defense Minister Ihor Tenyukh, has spoken at the parliament in Kyiv:
"I have never held on to my position and I am not going to hold on to it now. That's why in this situation, if the country's administration has another view on the development of events and has other candidates [for the job], I have no objections. Therefore, I, Admiral Tenyukh, tend my resignation as acting defense minister [of Ukraine]. Glory to Ukraine! And we will win."
His successor, Mykhaylo Koval, also spoke:
"I clearly understand the whole responsibility and trust you are bestowing on me on behalf of the people of Ukraine. I'm a professional soldier, I know what the armed forces are about and love them very much. I love my native Ukraine. I want to thank Admiral Ihor Tenyukh who properly carried out the duties he was supposed to during a very difficult time for Ukraine. I highly respect him. I believe in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. I believe in our motherland Ukraine and its bright future."
"I have never held on to my position and I am not going to hold on to it now. That's why in this situation, if the country's administration has another view on the development of events and has other candidates [for the job], I have no objections. Therefore, I, Admiral Tenyukh, tend my resignation as acting defense minister [of Ukraine]. Glory to Ukraine! And we will win."
His successor, Mykhaylo Koval, also spoke:
"I clearly understand the whole responsibility and trust you are bestowing on me on behalf of the people of Ukraine. I'm a professional soldier, I know what the armed forces are about and love them very much. I love my native Ukraine. I want to thank Admiral Ihor Tenyukh who properly carried out the duties he was supposed to during a very difficult time for Ukraine. I highly respect him. I believe in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. I believe in our motherland Ukraine and its bright future."
16:08
25.3.2014
RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reports that Right Sector is calling for the immediate resignation of Interior Minister Arsen Avakov following the shooting death of one its leading members, Oleksandr Muzychka (Sashko Biliy).
Right Sector head Dmytro Yarosh: "We cannot watch silently the actively counterrevolutionary activities of Ukraine's Interior Ministry. We demand the immediate resignation of Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, and are demanding the arrest of the commander of the Falcon organized-crime unit and, accordingly, those guilty of murder."
Interior Ministry officials say Muzychko was mortally wounded after he opened fire on police.
Right Sector head Dmytro Yarosh: "We cannot watch silently the actively counterrevolutionary activities of Ukraine's Interior Ministry. We demand the immediate resignation of Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, and are demanding the arrest of the commander of the Falcon organized-crime unit and, accordingly, those guilty of murder."
Interior Ministry officials say Muzychko was mortally wounded after he opened fire on police.
16:24
25.3.2014
Current list of candidates for Ukraine's May 25 presidential elections growing and growing:
-- Ex-PM Yulia Tymoshenko
-- UDAR head Vitali Klitschko
-- Right Sector's Dmytro Yarosh
-- former Kharkiv governor Mykhaylo Dobkin
-- billionaire Serhiy Tihipko
-- Radical Party head Oleh Lyashko
-- "Chocolate King" Petro Poroshenko
-- Communist Party leader Petro Simonenko
-- Vadym Rabynovych, president of All-Ukrainian Jewish Congress
It may be, however, that Tihipko may be the only candidate who's had his own cover on Men's Health.
-- Ex-PM Yulia Tymoshenko
-- UDAR head Vitali Klitschko
-- Right Sector's Dmytro Yarosh
-- former Kharkiv governor Mykhaylo Dobkin
-- billionaire Serhiy Tihipko
-- Radical Party head Oleh Lyashko
-- "Chocolate King" Petro Poroshenko
-- Communist Party leader Petro Simonenko
-- Vadym Rabynovych, president of All-Ukrainian Jewish Congress
It may be, however, that Tihipko may be the only candidate who's had his own cover on Men's Health.
16:32
25.3.2014
Meanwhile in Moscow, Vladimir #Putin reacts to international sanctions against #Russia: pic.twitter.com/rWSXfwrSf5
— The Moscow Times (@MoscowTimes) March 25, 2014
16:39
25.3.2014
When the Soviet Union collapsed, Russians were more than 5% of every former republic except Armenia.
— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) March 25, 2014
16:45
25.3.2014
Obama speaking in The Hague:
When the Soviet Union collapsed, Russians were more than 5% of every former republic except Armenia.
— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) March 25, 2014
Obama: "We haven't gone to war with Russia...but Russia is more isolated than during most of the 20th cent when it was part of Soviet Union"
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) March 25, 2014
16:49
25.3.2014
Obama saying "Russia is more isolated than during most of the 20th century when it was part of the Soviet Union" is total nonsense.
— Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) March 25, 2014
16:50
25.3.2014
From our news desk on Obama's speech in The Hague.
U.S. President Barack Obama has indicated that the United States and its allies will not back down in pressuring Russia over the annexation of Crimea.
Obama said the United States is concerned about the massing of Russian troops along Ukraine's border but he added Russia seems to be "making a series of calculations" as the Kremlin takes note of international opposition to Russian moves in Crimea.
Obama called Russia a "regional power" that is threatening a neighbor out of weakness not strength, noting if Russia had substantial influence in Ukraine it would not have needed to send troops there to enforce its policies.
Obama conceded however that Russia has military control over Crimea but reiterated the U.S. and its allies are "not recognizing what is happening in Crimea."
Obama said the United States is concerned about the massing of Russian troops along Ukraine's border but he added Russia seems to be "making a series of calculations" as the Kremlin takes note of international opposition to Russian moves in Crimea.
Obama called Russia a "regional power" that is threatening a neighbor out of weakness not strength, noting if Russia had substantial influence in Ukraine it would not have needed to send troops there to enforce its policies.
Obama conceded however that Russia has military control over Crimea but reiterated the U.S. and its allies are "not recognizing what is happening in Crimea."
16:51
25.3.2014