15:58
29.3.2014
From "The Guardian": How Vladimir Putin's Actions In Crimea Changed The World
"Disarmament is on hold, Nato has renewed its sense of purpose, Belarus is flirting with the west and 'irredentism' is back in vogue"
15:55
29.3.2014
How much of a cost are sanctions imposing on Russia? "The New York Times" reports: "Crimea Crisis Has Little Impact Thus Far on Russian Oil Deals."
In other signs Russian and Western businesses are quietly reaching rapprochements even as their governments wield threats, the board of Aeroflot, Russia’s national airline, on Friday approved the purchase of 13 new Airbus A320 airplanes.
And this month, a delegation of the American company Boeing visited a major Russian titanium parts supplier, VSMPO-Avisma.
The limited economic sanctions imposed by the European Union because of Moscow’s annexation of Crimea do not cover Russian oil companies. President Obama has approved but not put into effect sanctions aimed at sectors of Russia’s economy that include those petroleum companies.
James Henderson, senior research fellow at the Oxford Institute of Energy Studies, said it was unlikely that the current breakdown in relations between Russia and the West would be sufficient to derail the Total-Lukoil talks....
James Henderson, senior research fellow at the Oxford Institute of Energy Studies, said it was unlikely that the current breakdown in relations between Russia and the West would be sufficient to derail the Total-Lukoil talks....
In other signs Russian and Western businesses are quietly reaching rapprochements even as their governments wield threats, the board of Aeroflot, Russia’s national airline, on Friday approved the purchase of 13 new Airbus A320 airplanes.
And this month, a delegation of the American company Boeing visited a major Russian titanium parts supplier, VSMPO-Avisma.
15:53
29.3.2014
More from our news desk on Ukrainian acting President Oleksandr Turchynov meeting in Belarus with President Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
The Belarusian president's office said the two met at Lukashenka's residence in the village of Lyaskovichi, near the Ukrainian border.
The statement did not provide any further details.
Lukashenka said Friday in an interview on Ukrainian TV that he planned to meeting with Turchynov in the near future.
Lukashenka said in the interview "we are neighbors" and "the most important thing is the people of Ukraine and the people of Belarus."
He added, "One has to speak to the devil if necessary to prevent things from getting worse."
Belarus was one of 11 countries, along with Russia, that on Thursday voted against a non-binding UN General Assembly resolution condemning Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula earlier this month.
The statement did not provide any further details.
Lukashenka said Friday in an interview on Ukrainian TV that he planned to meeting with Turchynov in the near future.
Lukashenka said in the interview "we are neighbors" and "the most important thing is the people of Ukraine and the people of Belarus."
He added, "One has to speak to the devil if necessary to prevent things from getting worse."
Belarus was one of 11 countries, along with Russia, that on Thursday voted against a non-binding UN General Assembly resolution condemning Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula earlier this month.
15:42
29.3.2014
Kremlin.ru stresses at length that #Putin during call with Obama expressed concern over situation in #Transnistria
— MareikeAden (@MareikeAden) March 29, 2014
15:41
29.3.2014
#Yatsenyuk says #Ukraine ready for public talks with #Russia. Start of peaceful accord, let's hope - http://t.co/KygUCHx2xN
— GrahamWPhillips (@BritinUkraine) March 29, 2014
15:33
29.3.2014
It seems, surprise surprise, the White House and the Kremlin saw last night's big Putin-Obama phone call quite differently. Business Insider reports:
The White House and the Kremlin released two very different accounts of the two leaders' phone call on Friday. The White House emphasized the possibility of a diplomatic solution, noting that Obama pressed Putin and Russia to deliver a written response to the U.S.'s proposal for a diplomatic solution.
The Kremlin, meanwhile, focused on the "rampage of extremists." It also mentioned the two leaders discussed the breakaway region of Transnistria, which some have worried will be Putin's next target for a land grab. The White House neglected to mention this part of the conversation.
There was only one major facet the two readouts had in common: Both acknowledged that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov would meet in the near future to discuss ways to stabilize the situation.
The Kremlin, meanwhile, focused on the "rampage of extremists." It also mentioned the two leaders discussed the breakaway region of Transnistria, which some have worried will be Putin's next target for a land grab. The White House neglected to mention this part of the conversation.
There was only one major facet the two readouts had in common: Both acknowledged that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov would meet in the near future to discuss ways to stabilize the situation.
15:16
29.3.2014
Meanwhile, in the department of memorable healdines:
Dr. Iron Fist Bows Out of Ukraine Presidential Bout, Endorses Chocolate King http://t.co/R2cJRhja71 via @mashable
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) March 29, 2014
15:10
29.3.2014
When Petro met Vitaly.
Кличко и Порошенко pic.twitter.com/NBvFtbNJ1d
— Feldman (@EvgenyFeldman) March 29, 2014
15:07
29.3.2014
Positioning before his planned talks with U.S. Secretary of State Kerry, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Ukraine should have "non-bloc status" written into its constitution. Via ITAR-TASS:
PETRROPAVLOVSK KAMCHATSKY, March 29 (Itar-Tass) - A new constitution should clearly state the non-bloc status of Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Sergei Brilev's Vesti v Subbotu (News on Saturday) television programme on March 29.
He said this idea had been put forth in Russia's proposals concerning the settlement of the crisis in Ukraine. "This thesis is reflected in our proposals. We are convinced that a new constitution should clearly state the non-bloc status of Ukraine," the minister said.
"The Americans hear this. As to how much they understand this can be judged from their public statements. Last week in Brussels, President Barack Obama said that neither Ukraine nor NATO was prepared for this, and this issue should not be discussed now," Lavrov said, referring to calls for Ukraine's admission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
He said this idea had been put forth in Russia's proposals concerning the settlement of the crisis in Ukraine. "This thesis is reflected in our proposals. We are convinced that a new constitution should clearly state the non-bloc status of Ukraine," the minister said.
"The Americans hear this. As to how much they understand this can be judged from their public statements. Last week in Brussels, President Barack Obama said that neither Ukraine nor NATO was prepared for this, and this issue should not be discussed now," Lavrov said, referring to calls for Ukraine's admission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
15:02
29.3.2014
Here's a draft version on the Crimea Tatar "Self-Determination" clause principle up on the Kurultai. (1st page) pic.twitter.com/Mt3Di1Y220
— Ryskeldi Satke (@RyskeldiSatke) March 29, 2014