17:43
22.4.2014
17:40
22.4.2014
News is coming in on the wires about the mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Donetsk:
The OSCE’s chief mediator says he has held "constructive" talks with leaders of pro-Russian separatists who are occupying public buildings in the Ukrainian eastern city of Donetsk.
However, no breakthrough was reported in respect to persuading the activists to disarm and evacuate the buildings they have seized, as called for in the international agreement on de-escalation in Ukraine that was signed last week.
Mark Etherington was quoted by the Reuters news agency today as saying that his OSCE team had "useful" talks with representatives of the group occupying the Donetsk regional administration building, the mayor of Donetsk, and the Donetsk police chief.
Etherington met yesterday with pro-Russian separatists in Slovyansk.
Pro-Russian groups are holding public buildings in about 10 towns of the mainly Russian-speaking east.
The OSCE has been charged with overseeing implementation of the Geneva agreement that was signed April 17 by Ukraine's government, Russia, the United States, and the European Union.
Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of failing to implement the accord.
However, no breakthrough was reported in respect to persuading the activists to disarm and evacuate the buildings they have seized, as called for in the international agreement on de-escalation in Ukraine that was signed last week.
Mark Etherington was quoted by the Reuters news agency today as saying that his OSCE team had "useful" talks with representatives of the group occupying the Donetsk regional administration building, the mayor of Donetsk, and the Donetsk police chief.
Etherington met yesterday with pro-Russian separatists in Slovyansk.
Pro-Russian groups are holding public buildings in about 10 towns of the mainly Russian-speaking east.
The OSCE has been charged with overseeing implementation of the Geneva agreement that was signed April 17 by Ukraine's government, Russia, the United States, and the European Union.
Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of failing to implement the accord.
17:24
22.4.2014
16:53
22.4.2014
16:52
22.4.2014
16:49
22.4.2014
15:47
22.4.2014
15:22
22.4.2014
15:04
22.4.2014
Here's our news desk's short precis of Biden's speech in Kyiv today:
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has vowed support for Ukraine, which he said "is in a struggle for its very future."
Biden said the road ahead is difficult, but that Ukrainians "will not walk this road alone."
He was speaking on April 22 after talks in Kyiv with Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk.
Biden said "there are some who are trying to pull Ukraine apart," but he said Ukraine is and must remain one united country.
He also said it is time for Russia to fulfill its commitments to last week's Geneva agreement to end the crisis in eastern Ukraine.
"We will not allow this to become an open-ended process," he said.
For his part, Yatsenyuk said Ukraine's presidential election must go ahead next month. He said the country needs a legitimately elected president, a scenario which he said Russia does not want.
Biden said the road ahead is difficult, but that Ukrainians "will not walk this road alone."
He was speaking on April 22 after talks in Kyiv with Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk.
Biden said "there are some who are trying to pull Ukraine apart," but he said Ukraine is and must remain one united country.
He also said it is time for Russia to fulfill its commitments to last week's Geneva agreement to end the crisis in eastern Ukraine.
"We will not allow this to become an open-ended process," he said.
For his part, Yatsenyuk said Ukraine's presidential election must go ahead next month. He said the country needs a legitimately elected president, a scenario which he said Russia does not want.
15:02
22.4.2014
Meanwhile, in Moscow, Dmitry Medvedev has been talking about gas supplies to Ukraine:
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has told lawmakers that Russia will shift to a system of prepayment for gas supplies if Ukraine's debt remains unresolved.
Addressing Russia's State Duma, the lower house of parliament, on April 22, Medvedev said a prepayment system would be a "harsh but fair decision."
He also dismissed talk that supplies of gas from the United States could reduce Europe's reliance on Russian gas imports, calling such a suggestion a "bluff."
Medvedev also said continuing problems facing the global economy will impact Russia, adding that the "diplomatic climate" and domestic structural issues are also likely to have a negative effect.
Medvedev said the government is working to "minimize" the effects of international sanctions being imposed on the country since Russia annexed Crimea last month and pledged that "all social obligations will be fulfilled." (RFE/RL's news desk)
Addressing Russia's State Duma, the lower house of parliament, on April 22, Medvedev said a prepayment system would be a "harsh but fair decision."
He also dismissed talk that supplies of gas from the United States could reduce Europe's reliance on Russian gas imports, calling such a suggestion a "bluff."
Medvedev also said continuing problems facing the global economy will impact Russia, adding that the "diplomatic climate" and domestic structural issues are also likely to have a negative effect.
Medvedev said the government is working to "minimize" the effects of international sanctions being imposed on the country since Russia annexed Crimea last month and pledged that "all social obligations will be fulfilled." (RFE/RL's news desk)