15:56
8.4.2014
From the wires. Bad economic news for Ukraine.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says Ukraine's economy is facing a severe contraction due to the country's political turmoil and tension with Russia.
The Washington-based international lender offered no estimate for Ukraine's economy. But it said in its World Economic Outlook released on April 8 that "output will likely drop significantly as the acute economic and political shocks take their toll on investment and consumption."
The IMF reduced its outlook for Russia's economic growth to 1.3 percent for this year -- 0.6 percentage points lower than in its last estimate in January.
The United States and the European Union in recent weeks have sought to penalize Russian authorities while offering aid and trade links to Ukraine.
Last month, the IMF offered Kyiv's interim authorities up to $18 billion in loans over two years.
The Washington-based international lender offered no estimate for Ukraine's economy. But it said in its World Economic Outlook released on April 8 that "output will likely drop significantly as the acute economic and political shocks take their toll on investment and consumption."
The IMF reduced its outlook for Russia's economic growth to 1.3 percent for this year -- 0.6 percentage points lower than in its last estimate in January.
The United States and the European Union in recent weeks have sought to penalize Russian authorities while offering aid and trade links to Ukraine.
Last month, the IMF offered Kyiv's interim authorities up to $18 billion in loans over two years.
15:46
8.4.2014
"New government, old faces." Transparency International says new Ukrainian leadership not interested in fighting corruption.
Новий уряд України не хоче боротися з корупцією, кажуть в Transparency International http://t.co/WaQrR1Ztgl
— Радіо Свобода (@radiosvoboda) April 8, 2014
15:32
8.4.2014
Protesters outside #Ukraine's Rada call for bill to purge crooked judges http://t.co/3c9frDZvP9 @KyivPost_photo pic.twitter.com/byDJLOojDH
— KyivPost (@KyivPost) April 8, 2014
15:23
8.4.2014
More demands from pro-Russian separatists in Luhansk: their own parliament and carte blanche to practice separatism.
Митингующие в Луганске заявили о намерении создать свой парламент и требуют прекратить преследования за сепаратизм ...
— Інтерфакс-Україна (@interfaxua) April 8, 2014
15:08
8.4.2014
Our Ukrainian Service reports that Russia is willing to discuss the Ukrainian crisis with envoys from Ukraine, the United States, and the European Union. But Ukraine's Russian-speaking eastern and southern regions must be represented.
Москва готова до переговорів у форматі Росія-США-ЄС-Україна – Лавров http://t.co/WQdZcsLZgG
— Радіо Свобода (@radiosvoboda) April 8, 2014
15:01
8.4.2014
Special forces will shoot if separatists in eastern Ukraine don't surrender -- Ukraine's presidential office.
Якщо сепаратисти не складуть зброї, то спецпідрозділам накажуть стріляти – адміністрація президента http://t.co/xTn30uXbRU
— Радіо Свобода (@radiosvoboda) April 8, 2014
14:50
8.4.2014
Pro-Russian separatists in Luhansk have put forward their first demands -- hold a referendum on the Luhansk region's secession from Ukraine, organize a meeting with the regional governor, amnesty all law-enforcement officers involved in the crackdown on Maidan protests.
14:37
8.4.2014
Huge different to being here and on Maidan - there they thought all journos for them, here they think all journos are against them. #Donetsk
— GrahamWPhillips (@GrahamWP_UK) April 8, 2014
14:33
8.4.2014
14:23
8.4.2014
"Donbas is Ukraine." Ukraine's richest man, Donbas native Rinat Akhmetov, recounts his expletive-laden talks with pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk. Akhmetov, whom some accuse of funding the separatism movement in Ukraine's eastern region, has acted as an intermediary between Donetsk separatists and authorities in Kyiv.