13:52
14.4.2014
Here's a map of all Donetsk region cities with occupied buildings. Not on it is Zhdanivka/Zhdanovka http://t.co/CssK0zPP29
— Nikolaus von Twickel (@niktwick) April 14, 2014
13:49
14.4.2014
As this video from Slovyansk shows, deadline or no deadline, it doesn't look like the separatists ate going anywhere in a hurry:
13:11
14.4.2014
Our news desk reports that London is pushing for tougher financial stance against Russia:
Britain is calling on the European Union to agree "further sanctions" against Russia in response to the escalating crisis in eastern Ukraine.
As he arrived at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg today, Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague said “further sanctions have to be the response to Russia's behavior.”
"There can't really be any real doubt that this is something that has been planned and brought about by Russia," he said.
The EU has already hit Russian officials with travel bans and asset freezes and has threatened further economic sanctions.
Other EU foreign ministers expressed caution, however, with Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans saying “it would be too early today but I think we need to be well prepared.
He also said events in eastern Ukraine look “very, very similar to what happened previously in Crimea.”
Britain is calling on the European Union to agree "further sanctions" against Russia in response to the escalating crisis in eastern Ukraine.
As he arrived at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg today, Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague said “further sanctions have to be the response to Russia's behavior.”
"There can't really be any real doubt that this is something that has been planned and brought about by Russia," he said.
The EU has already hit Russian officials with travel bans and asset freezes and has threatened further economic sanctions.
Other EU foreign ministers expressed caution, however, with Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans saying “it would be too early today but I think we need to be well prepared.
He also said events in eastern Ukraine look “very, very similar to what happened previously in Crimea.”
12:39
14.4.2014
A couple of interesting tweets from Max Seddon in Horlivka:
These guys are running things now and they are not friendly pic.twitter.com/itfvkOJ34Z
— max seddon (@maxseddon) April 14, 2014
Really very ugly crowd here. Aggressive towards foreigners, which they weren't in other towns yesterday pic.twitter.com/Him4LnNAkM
— max seddon (@maxseddon) April 14, 2014
12:17
14.4.2014
RFE/RL's multimedia department has issued this video on the emergency session of the UN Security Council last night, in which the Russian and Ukrainian Ambassadors traded blame for the situation in eastern Ukraine:
12:03
14.4.2014
Kosake vor belagertem Rathaus #Sloviansk «Wir sind Terroristen?Nein, die Kiewer Machthaber sind Terroristen» #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/HEB8xzXsY5
— Dirk Emmerich (@DEmmerich) April 14, 2014
11:55
14.4.2014
Turchinov has replaced his SBU antiterror op chief (mebbe not greatest sign of unity in ranks with op underway) http://t.co/lKw6kRINjV
— tom balmforth (@BalmforthTom) April 14, 2014
11:34
14.4.2014
According to RFE/RL's news desk, it seems like the escalation of the situation in Ukraine is already having some economic ramifications:
Russian stock markets and the ruble have fallen amid heightened tensions in Ukraine.
Moscow's benchmark MICEX, which is denominated in rubles, fell more than 1 percent this morning, while the dollar-denominated RTS lost more than 2 percent.
Shares in the Gazprom energy giant also fell more than 1 percent.
The Russian ruble, meanwhile, retreated both against the euro and against the dollar to its lowest levels in three weeks.
European equities also slipped to a three-week low following a sharp U.S. sell-off on the tech-heavy Nasdaq.
Germany's benchmark DAX share index, which includes several companies with significant exposure to Russia, was down nearly 1 percent.
In London, oil major BP, which has a stake in Russia's biggest oil producer Rosneft, lost more than 1 percent.
Moscow's benchmark MICEX, which is denominated in rubles, fell more than 1 percent this morning, while the dollar-denominated RTS lost more than 2 percent.
Shares in the Gazprom energy giant also fell more than 1 percent.
The Russian ruble, meanwhile, retreated both against the euro and against the dollar to its lowest levels in three weeks.
European equities also slipped to a three-week low following a sharp U.S. sell-off on the tech-heavy Nasdaq.
Germany's benchmark DAX share index, which includes several companies with significant exposure to Russia, was down nearly 1 percent.
In London, oil major BP, which has a stake in Russia's biggest oil producer Rosneft, lost more than 1 percent.
11:13
14.4.2014
In case you forgot they have nukes, Russia just tested a new intercontinental ballistic missile: http://t.co/SvKUk0Ww3d
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) April 14, 2014
11:06
14.4.2014
Our news desk has a little more detail on Turchynov's comments regarding a referendum:
Ukraine's acting President Oleksander Turchynov has said the Ukrainian government is "not against" a referendum on the country's form of government.
In televised comments this morning, Turchynov said a referendum could be held at the same time as presidential elections scheduled for May 25.
Turchynov said he was sure the majority of Ukrainians would back a united, independent country.
In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said more information was needed on the referendum mooted in Kyiv.
The holding of such a referendum has been one of the key demands of pro-Russia separatists who have occupied state buildings in the east of the country.
There were no signs the separatists were preparing to comply with a government ultimatum to hand over their weapons and leave the state buildings by early morning today.
The government had threatened a "large-scale" military operation if the separatists failed to comply.
Ukraine's acting President Oleksander Turchynov has said the Ukrainian government is "not against" a referendum on the country's form of government.
In televised comments this morning, Turchynov said a referendum could be held at the same time as presidential elections scheduled for May 25.
Turchynov said he was sure the majority of Ukrainians would back a united, independent country.
In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said more information was needed on the referendum mooted in Kyiv.
The holding of such a referendum has been one of the key demands of pro-Russia separatists who have occupied state buildings in the east of the country.
There were no signs the separatists were preparing to comply with a government ultimatum to hand over their weapons and leave the state buildings by early morning today.
The government had threatened a "large-scale" military operation if the separatists failed to comply.