14:13
26.4.2014
Full text of the G-7 Statement:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2014
G-7 Leaders Statement on Ukraine
We, the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission, join in expressing our deep concern at the continued efforts by separatists backed by Russia to destabilize eastern Ukraine and our commitment to taking further steps to ensure a peaceful and stable environment for the May 25 presidential election.
We welcomed the positive steps taken by Ukraine to meet its commitments under the Geneva accord of April 17 by Ukraine, Russia, the European Union, and the United States. These actions include working towards constitutional reform and decentralization, proposing an amnesty law for those who will peacefully leave the buildings they have seized in eastern Ukraine, and supporting the work of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). We also note that the Government of Ukraine has acted with restraint in dealing with the armed bands illegally occupying government buildings and forming illegal checkpoints.
In contrast, Russia has taken no concrete actions in support of the Geneva accord. It has not publicly supported the accord, nor condemned the acts of pro-separatists seeking to destabilize Ukraine, nor called on armed militants to leave peacefully the government buildings they've occupied and put down their arms. Instead, it has continued to escalate tensions by increasingly concerning rhetoric and ongoing threatening military maneuvers on Ukraine's border.
We reiterate our strong condemnation of Russia's illegal attempt to annex Crimea and Sevastopol, which we do not recognize. We will now follow through on the full legal and practical consequences of this illegal annexation, including but not limited to the economic, trade and financial areas.
We have now agreed that we will move swiftly to impose additional sanctions on Russia. Given the urgency of securing the opportunity for a successful and peaceful democratic vote next month in Ukraine's presidential elections, we have committed to act urgently to intensify targeted sanctions and measures to increase the costs of Russia's actions.
Russia's actions in Ukraine and the response from the international community already have imposed significant costs on its economy. While we continue to prepare to move to broader, coordinated sanctions, including sectoral measures should circumstances warrant, as we committed to in The Hague on March 24, we underscore that the door remains open to a diplomatic resolution of this crisis, on the basis of the Geneva accord. We urge Russia to join us in committing to that path.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2014
G-7 Leaders Statement on Ukraine
We, the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission, join in expressing our deep concern at the continued efforts by separatists backed by Russia to destabilize eastern Ukraine and our commitment to taking further steps to ensure a peaceful and stable environment for the May 25 presidential election.
We welcomed the positive steps taken by Ukraine to meet its commitments under the Geneva accord of April 17 by Ukraine, Russia, the European Union, and the United States. These actions include working towards constitutional reform and decentralization, proposing an amnesty law for those who will peacefully leave the buildings they have seized in eastern Ukraine, and supporting the work of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). We also note that the Government of Ukraine has acted with restraint in dealing with the armed bands illegally occupying government buildings and forming illegal checkpoints.
In contrast, Russia has taken no concrete actions in support of the Geneva accord. It has not publicly supported the accord, nor condemned the acts of pro-separatists seeking to destabilize Ukraine, nor called on armed militants to leave peacefully the government buildings they've occupied and put down their arms. Instead, it has continued to escalate tensions by increasingly concerning rhetoric and ongoing threatening military maneuvers on Ukraine's border.
We reiterate our strong condemnation of Russia's illegal attempt to annex Crimea and Sevastopol, which we do not recognize. We will now follow through on the full legal and practical consequences of this illegal annexation, including but not limited to the economic, trade and financial areas.
We have now agreed that we will move swiftly to impose additional sanctions on Russia. Given the urgency of securing the opportunity for a successful and peaceful democratic vote next month in Ukraine's presidential elections, we have committed to act urgently to intensify targeted sanctions and measures to increase the costs of Russia's actions.
Russia's actions in Ukraine and the response from the international community already have imposed significant costs on its economy. While we continue to prepare to move to broader, coordinated sanctions, including sectoral measures should circumstances warrant, as we committed to in The Hague on March 24, we underscore that the door remains open to a diplomatic resolution of this crisis, on the basis of the Geneva accord. We urge Russia to join us in committing to that path.
14:12
26.4.2014
A senior Obama administration official speaking on background to the White House press pool:
"As you saw in the G-7 Leaders statement, Leaders have agreed that there must be further sanctions on Russia for their actions. Each country will determine which targeted sanctions they will impose. These sanctions will be coordinated and complementary, but not necessarily identical. U.S. sanctions could come as early as Monday."
14:10
26.4.2014
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk speaking today to reporters during his visit to Rome:
"This is [more] proof and evidence that these so-called peaceful protesters with the Russian ID's (eds: identification cards) are real terrorists who detained and captured as hostages OSCE observers. This is unbelievable and unacceptable and disgusting. And despite all of this Russian authorities never condemn these terrorists and this is a clear sign that the Russian regime supports these gangsters, culprits and criminals."
14:00
26.4.2014
"In Slovyansk, a people's council is gathering to establish a new local administration."
В #Славянск народный совет собирается для создания нового местного самоуправления pic.twitter.com/NCuAqJeVoW
— Sergey Ponomarev (@SergeyPonomarev) April 26, 2014
13:57
26.4.2014
Helicopter is landing at block post near #Slovyansk #Ukraine http://t.co/V7X2oJXnjO
— Paweł Pieniążek (@p_pieniazek) April 26, 2014
13:57
26.4.2014
RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service has more on latest journalist detained in eastern Ukraine -- ZIK Television correspondent Yuriy Lelyavskiy
У #словянськ'у захопили кореспондента телеканалу ZIK Юрія Лелявського http://t.co/tOyzsdcapg
— Радіо Свобода (@radiosvoboda) April 26, 2014
13:53
26.4.2014
Channel 5's report on Ukraine cutting off water supply to Crimea:
Україна перекрила Криму воду http://t.co/jOrE849beF #Крим #братУворот
— 5 канал (@5channel) April 26, 2014
13:50
26.4.2014
Via Reuters:
Ukraine says one of detained int'l observers needs medical care
One of the international observers being held by pro-Russian separatists in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slaviansk needs urgent medical care, Ukraine's state security service said on Saturday.
"Today the official representatives of the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe) are being held in inhuman conditions," the service said in a statement on its Internet site.
"Among those detained is a person who needs immediate medical help." The statement said Ukrainian security services were ready to provide medical assistance, but the separatists had rejected this offer.
"The terrorists plan to use the hostages as a human shield," the statement said.
It said the detention of the observers was planned and coordinated by a Russian citizen who Kiev says is a Russian special service operative. Russia denies that it has any of its troops or agents in eastern Ukraine.
One of the international observers being held by pro-Russian separatists in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slaviansk needs urgent medical care, Ukraine's state security service said on Saturday.
"Today the official representatives of the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe) are being held in inhuman conditions," the service said in a statement on its Internet site.
"Among those detained is a person who needs immediate medical help." The statement said Ukrainian security services were ready to provide medical assistance, but the separatists had rejected this offer.
"The terrorists plan to use the hostages as a human shield," the statement said.
It said the detention of the observers was planned and coordinated by a Russian citizen who Kiev says is a Russian special service operative. Russia denies that it has any of its troops or agents in eastern Ukraine.
13:49
26.4.2014
Some reactions to Ukraine cutting off Crimea's water supply:
Possible consequences of cutting off Crimea's water range from losing sympathy of residents, to retaliatory gas cutoff by Russia, to war.
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) April 26, 2014
Cutting off water to the civilian population of Crimea, whatever the politics, is not something I would have advised.
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) April 26, 2014
Blocking water supplies to Crimea alienates people Ukraine regards as citizens and gives Putin excuse to invade east on humanitarian grounds
— Leonid Ragozin (@leonidragozin) April 26, 2014
13:23
26.4.2014
Some informed speculation from the always insightful Leonid Ragozin on why Strelkov went public:
Guess Strelkov went public because Ponomaryov was a major liability. Now the real commander has good chances of becoming a rebel icon.
— Leonid Ragozin (@leonidragozin) April 26, 2014