13:37
16.4.2014
Our correspondent in Brussels, Rikard Jozwiak has sent us this NATO update:
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says the alliance is strengthening its military presence on its eastern borders in response to the crisis in Ukraine.
Speaking after a meeting in Brussels of the North Atlantic Council, Rasmussen said there will be military deployments by sea, air, and land "within days."
He said there will be "more planes in the air, more ships on the water, more readiness on the land."
Although he didn't go into operational details and numbers, he said there will be more air policing in the Baltic region and that allied ships will be deployed in the Baltic Sea, east Mediterranean, and elsewhere if required.
He stressed that the move is about "defense, deterrence, and de-escalation" and was "entirely in line with our international commitments."
He said NATO hopes talks scheduled in Geneva tomorrow will "pave the way for a peaceful and political solution to the crisis."
Speaking after a meeting in Brussels of the North Atlantic Council, Rasmussen said there will be military deployments by sea, air, and land "within days."
He said there will be "more planes in the air, more ships on the water, more readiness on the land."
Although he didn't go into operational details and numbers, he said there will be more air policing in the Baltic region and that allied ships will be deployed in the Baltic Sea, east Mediterranean, and elsewhere if required.
He stressed that the move is about "defense, deterrence, and de-escalation" and was "entirely in line with our international commitments."
He said NATO hopes talks scheduled in Geneva tomorrow will "pave the way for a peaceful and political solution to the crisis."
13:35
16.4.2014
Is this real? Some people in our newsroom are sceptical...
13:29
16.4.2014
No indication that Ukrainian paratroopers defected. Saw them coming out to fetch belongings from APCs, accompanied by armed "green men".
— Leonid Ragozin (@leonidragozin) April 16, 2014
13:12
16.4.2014
Video from Reuters showing armored military vehicles bearing the Russian flag driving into the eastern Ukrainian city of Slovyansk.
13:00
16.4.2014
In #EP on #Russia - Accepting logic of spheres of influence would mean ignoring lessons of last century in Europe http://t.co/9PNyzBvS2P
— Štefan Füle (@StefanFuleEU) April 16, 2014
12:58
16.4.2014
#ukraine was just in occupied town hall in Donetsk, normal council meeting going on with armed men all around, weird
— Gulliver Cragg (@gullivercragg) April 16, 2014
12:37
16.4.2014
Oleh Tsaryov, a pro-Russia lawmaker from Viktor Yanukovych's party of regions has hit back at those who have been critical of alleged Moscow-backed provocateurs and agitators in eastern Ukraine by drawing attention to what he calls a fascist rally, which was held in Kyiv on Sunday:
12:25
16.4.2014
Ukrainian vehicle re-branded pic.twitter.com/ziQko64nE0
— Daniel Sandford (@BBCDanielS) April 16, 2014
12:22
16.4.2014
Wha? RT @RT_com: BREAKING: Anti-govt protesters declare Odessa 'People's Republic' in southern #Ukraine http://t.co/CgvPW0Ml6o
— Glenn Kates (@gkates) April 16, 2014
12:02
16.4.2014
According to RFE/RL's Brussels correspondent Rikard Jozwiak, Stefan Fuele seems to be hinting at more sanctions aimed at Russia:
The European Union's enlargement commissioner has warned Russia that EU sanctions could gradually be "enlarged to a broad range of economic areas" should Moscow continue to destabilize Ukraine.
Speaking at a debate on the crisis in Ukraine in the European plenary in Strasbourg, Stefan Fuele noted that "coordinated and professional actions" by armed groups in eastern Ukraine resemble the scenario recently enacted in Crimea.
Fuele also said that the EU would respond jointly to a letter sent by Russian President Vladimir Putin to 18 member states concerning the energy situation in Ukraine, adding that Brussels would "agree on consultations with Moscow and Kyiv with a view to ensuring security of supply and transit."
In his speech, Fuele revealed that the EU Commission has invited the governments of Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine to Brussels in May to shore up support for the Eastern Partnership.
Speaking at a debate on the crisis in Ukraine in the European plenary in Strasbourg, Stefan Fuele noted that "coordinated and professional actions" by armed groups in eastern Ukraine resemble the scenario recently enacted in Crimea.
Fuele also said that the EU would respond jointly to a letter sent by Russian President Vladimir Putin to 18 member states concerning the energy situation in Ukraine, adding that Brussels would "agree on consultations with Moscow and Kyiv with a view to ensuring security of supply and transit."
In his speech, Fuele revealed that the EU Commission has invited the governments of Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine to Brussels in May to shore up support for the Eastern Partnership.