11:05
3.4.2014
Another item from RFE/RL's news desk:
Officials from Ukraine's Naftogaz company are due in Moscow today where they are expected to meet with Gazprom director Aleksei Miller.
It would be the first time Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuriy Prodan and Naftogaz head Andrei Kobolev have met with Russian energy officials.
Gazprom has not commented on the meeting.
The state-controlled Russian energy corporation has stated that Ukraine owes it some $1.7 billion in arrears.
Miller announced two days ago that the price of natural gas for Ukraine has been increased by more than 40 percent per thousand cubic meters for the second quarter of 2014, to a price of $385.5 per thousand cubic meters.
Gazprom officials said the increase is in line with a December agreement in which the price is increased if Ukraine does not pay its bill on time.
It would be the first time Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuriy Prodan and Naftogaz head Andrei Kobolev have met with Russian energy officials.
Gazprom has not commented on the meeting.
The state-controlled Russian energy corporation has stated that Ukraine owes it some $1.7 billion in arrears.
Miller announced two days ago that the price of natural gas for Ukraine has been increased by more than 40 percent per thousand cubic meters for the second quarter of 2014, to a price of $385.5 per thousand cubic meters.
Gazprom officials said the increase is in line with a December agreement in which the price is increased if Ukraine does not pay its bill on time.
10:35
3.4.2014
How #Russia's Gazprom has stumbled, and what it tells us about Putin's vulnerabilities http://t.co/qukcXADPYs via @BloombergNews
— Jonathan Eyal (@JEyal_RUSI) April 3, 2014
10:13
3.4.2014
RFE/RL's news desk has some more details regarding Sergei Lavrov's "de-escalation" comments:
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said some Russian troops near the Ukrainian border will return to permanent bases after completing military drills, and called for the "de-escalation" of rhetoric over the Ukrainian crisis.
At a news conference in Moscow on April 3 with his Kazakh counterpart, Lavrov said one battalion involved in the drills has already returned to base in the Rostov region.
He said other units would be returning to their bases after they "fulfill their tasks" in the military exercises.
He said "there are no restrictions on the movements of military units within the territory of the Russian Federation" and he added "our Western partners recognize this."
Lavrov also said Moscow has addressed questions to NATO about the alliance's activities in East Europe.
He added, "We are not only expecting answers, but answers that will be based fully on respect for the rules we agreed on."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said some Russian troops near the Ukrainian border will return to permanent bases after completing military drills, and called for the "de-escalation" of rhetoric over the Ukrainian crisis.
At a news conference in Moscow on April 3 with his Kazakh counterpart, Lavrov said one battalion involved in the drills has already returned to base in the Rostov region.
He said other units would be returning to their bases after they "fulfill their tasks" in the military exercises.
He said "there are no restrictions on the movements of military units within the territory of the Russian Federation" and he added "our Western partners recognize this."
Lavrov also said Moscow has addressed questions to NATO about the alliance's activities in East Europe.
He added, "We are not only expecting answers, but answers that will be based fully on respect for the rules we agreed on."
09:58
3.4.2014
Ukrainian forces carry out war games in Desna, Chernihiv region - PHOTOS http://t.co/x8vv6tR24J pic.twitter.com/bCRmhjI3lK
— KyivPost (@KyivPost) April 3, 2014
09:34
3.4.2014
RFE/RL's news desk has issued this item on the arrests made over the Maidan deaths in February:
Ukrainian authorities have arrested 12 members of the disbanded special police unit, Berkut, on suspicion of shooting unarmed pro-EU demonstrators in Kyiv in February.
A spokesman for the prosecutor-general said today that investigations continue into the killings of more than 100 people on Kyiv's Independence Square, most of whom were shot by snipers.
Ukraine's acting Attorney General Oleh Makhnitskyy said yesterday that the detained officers were members of a specialized Berkut squad called the "Black Unit."
According to Makhntitskyy, preliminary investigations revealed that the Berkut officers opened fire at the demonstrators on the order of then-President Viktor Yanukovych, who was ousted by the protesters two days after the shootings.
A special commission is due to hear the results of a preliminary investigation into the deaths at the Maidan protests later today.
A spokesman for the prosecutor-general said today that investigations continue into the killings of more than 100 people on Kyiv's Independence Square, most of whom were shot by snipers.
Ukraine's acting Attorney General Oleh Makhnitskyy said yesterday that the detained officers were members of a specialized Berkut squad called the "Black Unit."
According to Makhntitskyy, preliminary investigations revealed that the Berkut officers opened fire at the demonstrators on the order of then-President Viktor Yanukovych, who was ousted by the protesters two days after the shootings.
A special commission is due to hear the results of a preliminary investigation into the deaths at the Maidan protests later today.
09:21
3.4.2014
!!! BREAKING NEWS !!!
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says some Russian troops near the Ukrainian border will return to permanent bases after completing military drills. He has also called for a "de-escalation" of rhetoric concerning Ukraine.Lavrov also says Moscow expects answers from NATO on the alliance's activity in Eastern Europe
08:07
3.4.2014
#Ukraine Interior Minister @AvakovArsen to give presser in Kyiv today. Likely we'll learn more about snipers and arrests then.
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) April 3, 2014
08:06
3.4.2014
English speakers, here is @EuromaidanPR's translation of @LIGAnet's report on snipers http://t.co/VEvbskMtbw
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) April 3, 2014
08:05
3.4.2014
Detained sniper suspects are members of Berkut special "black company." Leader of squad among detainees. Further arrests to come, says PGO.
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) April 3, 2014
08:00
3.4.2014
FIFA Should Expel #Russia From Soccer World Cup, U.S. Senator Says http://t.co/pQFj3y2MhJ #news
— The Moscow Times (@MoscowTimes) April 3, 2014