10:42
26.4.2014
10:29
26.4.2014
In case you missed it overnight, from our newsroom:
Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrial powers have agreed to move forward with additional sanctions against Russia if Moscow does not take concrete measures to support the Geneva agreement intended to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine.
A statement issued on April 26 said that because of the urgent need to ensure "a successful and peaceful democratic vote next month in Ukraine's presidential election," the group has "committed to act urgently to intensify targeted sanctions."
The statement comes amid media reports citing unnamed U.S. officials saying that the United States and the EU will announce new targeted sanctions against Russian officials as early as April 28.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will travel to Washington next week to meet with U.S. President Barack Obama to discuss a unified response to Russia's actions in Ukraine.
A statement issued on April 26 said that because of the urgent need to ensure "a successful and peaceful democratic vote next month in Ukraine's presidential election," the group has "committed to act urgently to intensify targeted sanctions."
The statement comes amid media reports citing unnamed U.S. officials saying that the United States and the EU will announce new targeted sanctions against Russian officials as early as April 28.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will travel to Washington next week to meet with U.S. President Barack Obama to discuss a unified response to Russia's actions in Ukraine.
10:20
26.4.2014
10:09
26.4.2014
Ukraine's Interior Ministry says authorities have destroyed a fourth illegal checkpoint in Slovyansk, our service reports.
10:03
26.4.2014
Kyiv has asked Moscow to use its influence with the "terrorists" to secure the release of the OSCE verification team and Ukrainian troops being held in Slovyansk, according to RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service.
The OSCE contingent that was taken prisoner comprises five Ukrainian soldiers; four Germans, three of whom are soldiers; and four military observers from the Czech Republic, Denmark, Poland, and Sweden, respectively, according to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
The OSCE contingent that was taken prisoner comprises five Ukrainian soldiers; four Germans, three of whom are soldiers; and four military observers from the Czech Republic, Denmark, Poland, and Sweden, respectively, according to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
09:42
26.4.2014
A pro-Russian separatist leader in eastern Ukraine says that the OSCE observers that are being kept hostage are "NATO spies," several international agencies report. "Yesterday we arrested some NATO spies," AFP quoted the leader of the breakaway fighters who declared a "Donetsk Republic" this month, Denis Pushilin, as saying. "[T]hey wil be exchanged for our own prisoners. I don't see any other way they will be freed."
AFP added:
AFP added:
German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that pro-Russian separatists had arrested 13 mission members, including the observers, their interpreter and driver. Four of the team are Germans, including three members of the German military.
Washington called for the immediate release of the OSCE team and State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki insisted "there is a strong connection between Russia and these separatists".
Washington called for the immediate release of the OSCE team and State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki insisted "there is a strong connection between Russia and these separatists".
22:15
25.4.2014
Here's the top of our newsroom's wrap-up of events today in Ukraine, which concludes our live blogging for April 25. You can read the whole wrap-up here.
Ukraine's Interior Ministry says armed pro-Russian separatists in the eastern city of Slovyansk have seized a group of international representatives of the OSCE.
The ministry said negotiations were taking place for the release of the group, which includes seven OSCE representatives, five members of the Ukrainian armed forces, and a driver.
The April 25 statement said rebels had seized a bus carrying the observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. It said the group was being held in a State Security Service building held by the Slovyansk separatists.
The separatist mayor of Slovyansk, Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, told Reuters that the group had been detained because there were suspicions that a member of the Ukrainian government's military staff, whom he called a spy, was among the group.
OSCE observers have been in the region to oversee implementation of the Geneva agreement -- signed April 17 by Ukraine’s government, Russia, the United States, and the European Union -- aimed at de-escalating the situation in Ukraine.
Western states and Russia have accused each other of failing to take steps to implement the accord.
The White House, meanwhile, said President Barack Obama and the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, and Italy have agreed to "coordinate additional steps to impose costs" on Russia, such as sanctions, over its actions in the Ukraine crisis.
The ministry said negotiations were taking place for the release of the group, which includes seven OSCE representatives, five members of the Ukrainian armed forces, and a driver.
The April 25 statement said rebels had seized a bus carrying the observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. It said the group was being held in a State Security Service building held by the Slovyansk separatists.
The separatist mayor of Slovyansk, Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, told Reuters that the group had been detained because there were suspicions that a member of the Ukrainian government's military staff, whom he called a spy, was among the group.
OSCE observers have been in the region to oversee implementation of the Geneva agreement -- signed April 17 by Ukraine’s government, Russia, the United States, and the European Union -- aimed at de-escalating the situation in Ukraine.
Western states and Russia have accused each other of failing to take steps to implement the accord.
The White House, meanwhile, said President Barack Obama and the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, and Italy have agreed to "coordinate additional steps to impose costs" on Russia, such as sanctions, over its actions in the Ukraine crisis.
22:13
25.4.2014
20:57
25.4.2014
In an interview today in Prague with RFE/RL, Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti reiterated calls for Russian forces to withdraw from Moldova’s breakaway Transdniestr region.
Timofti compared the deployment of Russian forces in Ukraine’s Crimea region in February to the crisis in 1992 over Moldova’s Transdniestr region.
Read more about the interview with Timofti here.
20:50
25.4.2014
How convincing are suggestions that Russian state-controlled RT TV's "Russian viewpoint" is nothing more than Russian propaganda? Our own Glenn Kates looks at some recent indicators.