17:23
7.4.2014
NATO has restricted access to its headquarters for Russian officials.
The move follows NATO's decision last week to suspend all practical cooperation with Russia in response to the Crimean annexation.
The alliance said in a statement that "the formerly extensive access to NATO headquarters will be denied to all representatives of the Russian mission, except the Russian ambassador, his deputy head of mission, and two support staff."
It said that "standard visitor rules" will apply to any other member of Russia's delegation to NATO.
NATO said the decision will come into force on April 8. It will be subject to a review by the alliance's foreign ministers in June.
The move follows NATO's decision last week to suspend all practical cooperation with Russia in response to the Crimean annexation.
The alliance said in a statement that "the formerly extensive access to NATO headquarters will be denied to all representatives of the Russian mission, except the Russian ambassador, his deputy head of mission, and two support staff."
It said that "standard visitor rules" will apply to any other member of Russia's delegation to NATO.
NATO said the decision will come into force on April 8. It will be subject to a review by the alliance's foreign ministers in June.
17:51
7.4.2014
Our Ukrainian Service reminds us that amid this crazy backdrop, Ukrainian candidates and voters are still preparing for a presidential election in less than seven weeks' time (story in Ukrainian).
Які сюрпризи готує президентська кампанія. http://t.co/FNs8QiOcWl
— Радіо Свобода (@radiosvoboda) April 7, 2014
18:01
7.4.2014
A fresh effort is afoot in Lviv to exclude Russian chess players -- including grandmasters Anatoly Karpov and Ukrainian-born Sergey Karjakin -- from Ukrainian tournaments over support for the annexation of Crimea, according to our service. The Lviv chess federation expresses gratitude to Garry Kasparov and Vladimir Kramnik for their reported criticism of the move.
У Львові домагатимуться визнати російських шахістів персонами нон ґрата http://t.co/bEXSX0T1f9
— Радіо Свобода (@radiosvoboda) April 7, 2014
18:11
7.4.2014
The Russian Foreign Ministry has accused Kyiv of "finger-pointing at Russia" and urged it to heed "legitimate demands."
"If the irresponsible attitude toward the fate of the country, the fate of their own people, on behalf of the political forces that call themselves the Ukrainian government were to continue, Ukraine would inevitably face ever new difficulties and crises," ministry spokesman Aleksandr Lukashevich said today. "Enough finger-pointing at Russia -- blaming it for all the troubles of today's Ukraine. The Ukrainian people need to hear from Kyiv clear answers to all questions. It is time to listen to these legitimate demands."
"If the irresponsible attitude toward the fate of the country, the fate of their own people, on behalf of the political forces that call themselves the Ukrainian government were to continue, Ukraine would inevitably face ever new difficulties and crises," ministry spokesman Aleksandr Lukashevich said today. "Enough finger-pointing at Russia -- blaming it for all the troubles of today's Ukraine. The Ukrainian people need to hear from Kyiv clear answers to all questions. It is time to listen to these legitimate demands."
19:08
7.4.2014
Tensions in Ukraine highest since Crimea invasion, @maxseddon reports http://t.co/u8ElLYRfjZ
— Ben Smith (@BuzzFeedBen) April 7, 2014
19:14
7.4.2014
In an interview with RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, one of the authors of Ukraine's 1996 constitution, law professor Viktor Musiyaka, predicts Ukraine "will never be a federation" and talks about separatism in the eastern part of the country (in Ukrainian):
"#Украина никогда не будет федерацией". Киевский юрист Виктор Мусияка объясняет, почему http://t.co/AXgVpYyaNw
— Радио Свобода (@SvobodaRadio) April 7, 2014
19:30
7.4.2014
ethnic Ukrainians account for 56.9% in Donetsk region, 70.7% in Kharkiv region & 58 % in the Luhansk region, http://t.co/sZtlLS2SnR
— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) April 7, 2014
19:50
7.4.2014
Our Washington correspondent Carl Schreck quotes the White House suggesting there is "strong evidence" that some of the pro-Moscow protesters "were paid and not local residents."
White House spokesman Jay Carney described the latest developments as the result of "increasing Russian pressure on Ukraine."
White House spokesman Jay Carney described the latest developments as the result of "increasing Russian pressure on Ukraine."
19:56
7.4.2014
Yuliya Tymoshenko, who is running in the May presidential election, had this to say today in Donetsk:
"These people can be divided into two categories: the first are representatives and members of the Russian Federation's special forces; the second are people hired by them, and they behave in quite an aggressive way."
"There are about 200 people in the regional administration building [in Donetsk]. There are a few people among them who are armed and who use weapons. It was very important for me to see that this aggression currently instigated here has nothing to do with the life, wishes, and views prevalent in Donetsk."
"I am convinced today, after talking to people, after talking to the people of Donetsk, that nobody wants war. Nobody wants instability. Everybody wants peace, calm, economic stability, adequate earnings, everybody wants new jobs, and nobody wants a war that would last for many years. Everybody comprehends a monstrous face of war."
"There are about 200 people in the regional administration building [in Donetsk]. There are a few people among them who are armed and who use weapons. It was very important for me to see that this aggression currently instigated here has nothing to do with the life, wishes, and views prevalent in Donetsk."
"I am convinced today, after talking to people, after talking to the people of Donetsk, that nobody wants war. Nobody wants instability. Everybody wants peace, calm, economic stability, adequate earnings, everybody wants new jobs, and nobody wants a war that would last for many years. Everybody comprehends a monstrous face of war."
20:02
7.4.2014
Reuters quotes a spokeswoman for the Luhansk regional Prosecutor-General's Office, Maryna Bragina, as saying "talks will be held in the near future" with the pro-Russian protesters who have occupied the city administration building and Ukrainian Security Service headquarters there and raided a cache of weapons. "We are putting together a working group that will conduct the talks."