18:37
24.4.2014
18:32
24.4.2014
From our news desk:
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says it will make a final decision on a huge aid package for Ukraine next week.
The IMF says the Ukrainian government has met its conditions. It said the IMF board will meet April 30 to review the program and issue a decision.
The IMF has tentatively agreed to lend Kyiv $14 to $18 billion over two years to help Ukraine recover after months of political and economic turmoil. The final amount has not been announced.
The IMF loan is part of a larger $27 billion international aid package to Ukraine announced last month, which involved contributions from the United States, Western Europe and other donors.
The IMF decision to move ahead on the rescue plan comes despite the escalating tensions between Ukraine and Russia.
The IMF says the Ukrainian government has met its conditions. It said the IMF board will meet April 30 to review the program and issue a decision.
The IMF has tentatively agreed to lend Kyiv $14 to $18 billion over two years to help Ukraine recover after months of political and economic turmoil. The final amount has not been announced.
The IMF loan is part of a larger $27 billion international aid package to Ukraine announced last month, which involved contributions from the United States, Western Europe and other donors.
The IMF decision to move ahead on the rescue plan comes despite the escalating tensions between Ukraine and Russia.
17:36
24.4.2014
BREAKING: Ukraine's acting President Oleksandr Turchynov has demanded that Russia stop meddling in Ukraine's affairs and halt its "blackmail."
In a televised statement, the president demanded that Moscow pull back its troops from the Ukrainian border. He accused Russia of "coordinating and openly supporting terrorist killers" in eastern Ukraine, and said Ukraine will not "back down from the terrorist threat."
In a televised statement, the president demanded that Moscow pull back its troops from the Ukrainian border. He accused Russia of "coordinating and openly supporting terrorist killers" in eastern Ukraine, and said Ukraine will not "back down from the terrorist threat."
16:23
24.4.2014
16:10
24.4.2014
16:08
24.4.2014
French President Francois Hollande and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk met today and spoke at a joint news conference in Paris. Some highlights:
Hollande:
"We must condemn everything that is going in the direction of increasing tensions, military pressure, anything that could degenerate into a conflict which would be extremely dangerous for all of Europe."
"We also have a goal which is to allow Ukraine to have a constitution that is able to guarantee the respect of minorities and decentralization, provided that dialogue takes place. "
Tusk:
"The goal is that the European Union as a whole is no longer reliant on a unique source of energy supplies, so we need a real diversification and a fall in energy prices that would stimulate competitiveness of the economy and the implementation of genuine European values of solidarity."
"We are talking about the need of the EU and other countries to open up to different sources of supply, such as liquefied gas or also oil, although we do not have problems with oil at the moment. First of all, we are thinking about the quick start of cooperation and contracts with the United States and eventually later with Australia, which is a promising exporter of liquefied gas on today's markets."
Hollande:
"We must condemn everything that is going in the direction of increasing tensions, military pressure, anything that could degenerate into a conflict which would be extremely dangerous for all of Europe."
"We also have a goal which is to allow Ukraine to have a constitution that is able to guarantee the respect of minorities and decentralization, provided that dialogue takes place. "
Tusk:
"The goal is that the European Union as a whole is no longer reliant on a unique source of energy supplies, so we need a real diversification and a fall in energy prices that would stimulate competitiveness of the economy and the implementation of genuine European values of solidarity."
"We are talking about the need of the EU and other countries to open up to different sources of supply, such as liquefied gas or also oil, although we do not have problems with oil at the moment. First of all, we are thinking about the quick start of cooperation and contracts with the United States and eventually later with Australia, which is a promising exporter of liquefied gas on today's markets."
15:59
24.4.2014
Vox asked a leading scholar of warfare whether Ukraine is heading for civil war?
Fortunately, that isn't happening yet — and, according to one of the leading scholars of warfare, probably won't. "I think it is important to start out by saying that what we're seeing here is not a civil war," Stanford University professor James Fearon told me. "Rather, it's a land grab by President Putin that's boosting his popularity at home."
15:50
24.4.2014
15:19
24.4.2014
There are anonymously sourced reports (including from @ChristopherJM) suggesting that Ukrainian officials are suspending their "anti-terrorist" operation in the east amid news that Russian troops appear to be amassing near the Ukraine border.
Here's more from our newsroom, compiled from agency reports:
Here's more from our newsroom, compiled from agency reports:
Russia's defense minister says Russia has launched new military drills near the Ukrainian border in response to Ukrainian action against pro-Russian separatists and a NATO buildup of forces in Poland and the Baltic countries.
Sergei Shoigu said Russia was forced to react after Ukraine’s military launched an assault April 24 to retake the rebel-held flashpoint town of Slovyansk.
Up to five separatists were reported killed in the Ukrainian operation.
Shoigu alleged more than 11,000 Ukrainian troops were taking part in a military operation against civilians in Ukraine's mostly Russian-speaking southeast.
Shoigu said the Ukrainian force included tanks, armored vehicles, and aircraft.
He called the Ukrainian force a “military machine” and said if it is not stopped, it will lead to greater numbers of dead and wounded.
Shoigu also said planned NATO exercises in Poland and the Baltic states are not helping to calm the situation.
Sergei Shoigu said Russia was forced to react after Ukraine’s military launched an assault April 24 to retake the rebel-held flashpoint town of Slovyansk.
Up to five separatists were reported killed in the Ukrainian operation.
Shoigu alleged more than 11,000 Ukrainian troops were taking part in a military operation against civilians in Ukraine's mostly Russian-speaking southeast.
Shoigu said the Ukrainian force included tanks, armored vehicles, and aircraft.
He called the Ukrainian force a “military machine” and said if it is not stopped, it will lead to greater numbers of dead and wounded.
Shoigu also said planned NATO exercises in Poland and the Baltic states are not helping to calm the situation.
15:14
24.4.2014
Impressive video of moments from the Ukrainian security operations around Slovyansk today: