19:25
17.4.2014
And here's a short wrap on the agreement:
Ukraine, Russia, the United States, and the European Union have announced agreement on measures aimed at defusing the crisis in Ukraine.
After daylong talks April 17 in Geneva, the parties called on all illegal armed groups across Ukraine to disband, to stop occupying public buildings, and to refrain from violence.
Officials said Ukrainian authorities have also agreed to grant amnesty to protesters who illegally occupied property during Ukraine’s unrest, excluding those found guilty of capital offenses.
The four parties also agreed to the deployment of an OSCE mission to oversee de-escalation in Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasized the call to disband illegal armed groups applied to all groups across Ukraine, including ones that support the new authorities in Kyiv.
The four parties also condemned all activity in Ukraine seeking to discriminate on the basis of ethnicity or religion.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry mentioned a reported anti-Jewish incident in eastern Ukraine, and a threat to the Russian Orthodox Church.
Kerry said that if the four-party agreement collapses, the United States will have no choice but to impose further measures aimed at punishing Russia.
After daylong talks April 17 in Geneva, the parties called on all illegal armed groups across Ukraine to disband, to stop occupying public buildings, and to refrain from violence.
Officials said Ukrainian authorities have also agreed to grant amnesty to protesters who illegally occupied property during Ukraine’s unrest, excluding those found guilty of capital offenses.
The four parties also agreed to the deployment of an OSCE mission to oversee de-escalation in Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasized the call to disband illegal armed groups applied to all groups across Ukraine, including ones that support the new authorities in Kyiv.
The four parties also condemned all activity in Ukraine seeking to discriminate on the basis of ethnicity or religion.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry mentioned a reported anti-Jewish incident in eastern Ukraine, and a threat to the Russian Orthodox Church.
Kerry said that if the four-party agreement collapses, the United States will have no choice but to impose further measures aimed at punishing Russia.
19:22
17.4.2014
Former soldiers, reservists, as well as people with no military experience are forming a volunteer battalion in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipropetrovsk to counter pro-Russia separatists in the region. Video by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service.
19:21
17.4.2014
19:00
17.4.2014
Now Kerry has weighed in:
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has confirmed that the four parties at the talks in Geneva have agreed to the deployment of an OSCE mission to oversee de-escalation in Ukraine.
Kerry said Ukrainian authorities have also agreed to grant amnesty to protesters who illegally occupied property, excluding those found guilty of capital offenses.
Kerry said Ukrainian authorities have also agreed to grant amnesty to protesters who illegally occupied property, excluding those found guilty of capital offenses.
18:59
17.4.2014
More from our news desk on Lavrov's comments in Geneva.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says the four-party meeting in Geneva has agreed to call for a de-escalation of the situation in Ukraine.
He said the four parties have agreed on a demand for all illegal armed groups in Ukraine to be disbanded, and for those occupying government buildings to vacate those buildings and refrain from violence.
Lavrov emphasized the call to disband illegal armed groups applied to all groups across Ukraine, including ones that support the new authorities in Kyiv. In particular, he cited the Ukrainian nationalist group the Right Sector.
Lavrov spoke April 17 after he met throughout the day with representatives of Ukraine's new government, the United States, and European Union.
The talks were held to try to defuse the crisis, amid the seizure of buildings in eastern Ukraine by pro-Russian groups.
Lavrov said he four parties called for an end to threats and intimidation aimed at any and all groups in Ukraine, be they religious, national or other.
Lavrov said the four-party document also calls for all those arrested during the recent unrest in Ukraine to be released.
He said the four-party document recognizes that the "Ukrainians themselves" must take responsibility for resolving the tensions in the country.
He added that Russia has no desire to send troops into Ukraine.
He said the four parties have agreed on a demand for all illegal armed groups in Ukraine to be disbanded, and for those occupying government buildings to vacate those buildings and refrain from violence.
Lavrov emphasized the call to disband illegal armed groups applied to all groups across Ukraine, including ones that support the new authorities in Kyiv. In particular, he cited the Ukrainian nationalist group the Right Sector.
Lavrov spoke April 17 after he met throughout the day with representatives of Ukraine's new government, the United States, and European Union.
The talks were held to try to defuse the crisis, amid the seizure of buildings in eastern Ukraine by pro-Russian groups.
Lavrov said he four parties called for an end to threats and intimidation aimed at any and all groups in Ukraine, be they religious, national or other.
Lavrov said the four-party document also calls for all those arrested during the recent unrest in Ukraine to be released.
He said the four-party document recognizes that the "Ukrainians themselves" must take responsibility for resolving the tensions in the country.
He added that Russia has no desire to send troops into Ukraine.
18:28
17.4.2014
From our news desk:
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says the United States is sending more nonlethal military support to Ukraine.
Hagel said April 17 that the assistance will include medical supplies, helmets, water purification units, and power generators.
The United States has previously sent supplies such as ready-to-eat meals to the Ukrainian military.
However, U.S. officials have said there are no current plans to provide weapons and ammunition to Ukraine’s military.
Hagel spoke at a Pentagon news conference after talks with Defense Minister Tomasz Siemoniak of NATO member and Ukrainian neighbor Poland.
The United States has backed the Ukrainian government’s attempted security crackdown on pro-Russian groups who have seized public buildings in eastern Ukraine.
Washington has accused Russia of actively destabilizing the situation in Ukraine, and demanded that Moscow withdraw thousands of troops massed near Russia’s border with Ukraine.
NATO earlier this week said it was deploying more ships, planes, and troops to eastern members of the alliance to guard against possible Russian aggression.
Hagel said April 17 that the assistance will include medical supplies, helmets, water purification units, and power generators.
The United States has previously sent supplies such as ready-to-eat meals to the Ukrainian military.
However, U.S. officials have said there are no current plans to provide weapons and ammunition to Ukraine’s military.
Hagel spoke at a Pentagon news conference after talks with Defense Minister Tomasz Siemoniak of NATO member and Ukrainian neighbor Poland.
The United States has backed the Ukrainian government’s attempted security crackdown on pro-Russian groups who have seized public buildings in eastern Ukraine.
Washington has accused Russia of actively destabilizing the situation in Ukraine, and demanded that Moscow withdraw thousands of troops massed near Russia’s border with Ukraine.
NATO earlier this week said it was deploying more ships, planes, and troops to eastern members of the alliance to guard against possible Russian aggression.
18:27
17.4.2014
18:21
17.4.2014
BREAKING: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says the four-party meeting in Geneva is calling for a de-escalation of the situation in Ukraine.
He said the four parties have agreed on a demand for all illegal armed groups in Ukraine to be dissolved, and for those occupying government buildings to vacate those buildings.
He said the four parties have agreed on a demand for all illegal armed groups in Ukraine to be dissolved, and for those occupying government buildings to vacate those buildings.
16:43
17.4.2014
NATO has responded to Putin's allegations that NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, when he was Danish prime minister, secretly taped a private conversation with Putin and leaked it to the press:
NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu rejected Putin's accusation, calling it "complete nonsense."
Lungescu told Reuters news agency that during his term in office as Danish prime minister, Rasmussen "never" brought a dictaphone to record meetings with Putin or anybody else.
She added: "In general, to divert attention away from its own illegal and illegitimate actions in Ukraine, Russia has levelled a series of accusations against NATO which distort the facts."
Lungescu told Reuters news agency that during his term in office as Danish prime minister, Rasmussen "never" brought a dictaphone to record meetings with Putin or anybody else.
She added: "In general, to divert attention away from its own illegal and illegitimate actions in Ukraine, Russia has levelled a series of accusations against NATO which distort the facts."
16:32
17.4.2014