10:03
11.4.2014
7 men have died in coal mining explosion in E Ukraine. Rada held a minute's silence. Interesting to see if @Yatsenyuk_AP goes to the scene
— Daniel Sandford (@BBCDanielS) April 11, 2014
10:24
11.4.2014
Another interesting tweet from Katie Stallard at Yatsenyuk's news conference in Donetsk:
Next to him is the richest man in ukraine - oligarch rinat akhmetov. He said 'Donbass is Ukraine'. #Donetsk #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/0yOTqLmFV9
— Katie Stallard (@skystallard) April 11, 2014
10:41
11.4.2014
Here's some more details from our news desk on Sergei Lavrov's latest Ukraine comments:
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says it is necessary to stop trying to "legitimize" the Ukrainian government in order to de-escalate the situation in Ukraine.
Lavrov said in Moscow on April 11 that it is also necessary for Ukraine to have legal guarantees of its "neutrality" in order to resolve the Ukraine crisis, underlining Moscow's opposition to Kyiv joining NATO.
He also said that Russia is ready for four-party talks next week with the United States, the European Union, and Ukraine.
Lavrov said that talks about energy issues, including Ukraine's gas debt to Moscow, should also be on the agenda of the talks.
He added that there is a need for major reform of the Ukrainian Constitution, not just "cosmetic" changes to it.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says it is necessary to stop trying to "legitimize" the Ukrainian government in order to de-escalate the situation in Ukraine.
Lavrov said in Moscow on April 11 that it is also necessary for Ukraine to have legal guarantees of its "neutrality" in order to resolve the Ukraine crisis, underlining Moscow's opposition to Kyiv joining NATO.
He also said that Russia is ready for four-party talks next week with the United States, the European Union, and Ukraine.
Lavrov said that talks about energy issues, including Ukraine's gas debt to Moscow, should also be on the agenda of the talks.
He added that there is a need for major reform of the Ukrainian Constitution, not just "cosmetic" changes to it.
10:51
11.4.2014
Interesting: Russia will transfer inmates from #Crimea to mainland #Ukraine if they ask for it - Pros General Chaika http://t.co/npgLsOfNae
— Nikolaus von Twickel (@niktwick) April 11, 2014
10:55
11.4.2014
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk's visit to Donetsk today is as good as reason as any to remind you to take our quiz on this city.
10:58
11.4.2014
Here's an update on what's happening with the dozens of pro-Russia activists who were arrested in Donetsk this week:
A court in Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, has put 62 pro-Russian activists in two-month pretrial detention.
Kharkiv's Kyiv District Court ruled today that three other activists must stay under house arrest.
All the detained activists were charged with organizing mass disorder.
The regional prosecutor's office says those sent into pretrial detention -- except for two leaders of the so-called Eastern Ukrainian Bloc movement, Yehor Lohvinov and Serhiy Yudayev -- can be released on bail of 180,000 hryvnyas ($14,500).
The 65 activists were arrested on April 8, two days after they seized the Kharkiv Regional Administration building, demanding a referendum on Ukraine's federalization.
They clashed with police briefly after security forces had forced them out of the building on August 7.
A court in Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, has put 62 pro-Russian activists in two-month pretrial detention.
Kharkiv's Kyiv District Court ruled today that three other activists must stay under house arrest.
All the detained activists were charged with organizing mass disorder.
The regional prosecutor's office says those sent into pretrial detention -- except for two leaders of the so-called Eastern Ukrainian Bloc movement, Yehor Lohvinov and Serhiy Yudayev -- can be released on bail of 180,000 hryvnyas ($14,500).
The 65 activists were arrested on April 8, two days after they seized the Kharkiv Regional Administration building, demanding a referendum on Ukraine's federalization.
They clashed with police briefly after security forces had forced them out of the building on August 7.
11:10
11.4.2014
According to RFE/RL's news desk, it seems Viktor Yanukovych could be staying in Russia for a while longer at least:
Russia says it will not extradite ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to Ukraine, where he has been charged with crimes.
Russian Prosecutor-General Yuri Chaika said today in the Crimean capital Simferopol that he will not send Ukraine's "fully fledged, legitimate president" to Kyiv to face charges.
Chaika added that Yanukovych "did not commit any crimes."
The Ukrainian government began seeking Yanukovych's extradition in February, days after he fled the country following protests against him after refusing to sign a pact with the EU and instead favoring closer ties with Russia.
He is wanted on charges in Ukraine that he ordered security forces to fire on unarmed protesters in Kyiv which led to some 100 deaths.
Yanukovych has declared himself to still be the legitimate president and has called the new Ukrainian government illegal.
Russian Prosecutor-General Yuri Chaika said today in the Crimean capital Simferopol that he will not send Ukraine's "fully fledged, legitimate president" to Kyiv to face charges.
Chaika added that Yanukovych "did not commit any crimes."
The Ukrainian government began seeking Yanukovych's extradition in February, days after he fled the country following protests against him after refusing to sign a pact with the EU and instead favoring closer ties with Russia.
He is wanted on charges in Ukraine that he ordered security forces to fire on unarmed protesters in Kyiv which led to some 100 deaths.
Yanukovych has declared himself to still be the legitimate president and has called the new Ukrainian government illegal.
11:22
11.4.2014
NATO releases more photos of apparent Russian military buildup near Ukrainian border: http://t.co/eiCKX2B3Zi
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) April 11, 2014
11:37
11.4.2014
Interior Minister Arsen #Avakov hides all public posts on his Facebook. Was he asked by govt to stop blogging or was it his decision?
— Myroslava Petsa (@myroslavapetsa) April 11, 2014
11:58
11.4.2014
Our news desk has an update on comments made by Sergei Lavrov today:
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused Western countries of spreading anti-Russian sentiments and warned such a policy could threaten European stability.
Since Russia's seizure of Ukraine's Crimea in March, Western nations have accused Moscow of destabilizing Europe and have imposed sanctions targeting Russian individuals.
NATO has called on Russia to withdraw troops it has massed near the Ukrainian border.
In his remarks today, Lavrov also said countries should to stop trying to "legitimize" the new Ukrainian government if they really want a de-escalation of the crisis.
Moscow rejects the authorities who took power in Ukraine in February, saying it still recognizes ousted President Viktor Yanukovych as the country's legitimate leader.
Russia is one of the few countries in the world that does not recognize the Ukrainian government of Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and acting President Oleksandr Turchynov.
Lavrov also underlined Moscow's opposition to Ukraine joining NATO, saying it was necessary necessary for Ukraine to have legal guarantees of its "neutrality."
Since Russia's seizure of Ukraine's Crimea in March, Western nations have accused Moscow of destabilizing Europe and have imposed sanctions targeting Russian individuals.
NATO has called on Russia to withdraw troops it has massed near the Ukrainian border.
In his remarks today, Lavrov also said countries should to stop trying to "legitimize" the new Ukrainian government if they really want a de-escalation of the crisis.
Moscow rejects the authorities who took power in Ukraine in February, saying it still recognizes ousted President Viktor Yanukovych as the country's legitimate leader.
Russia is one of the few countries in the world that does not recognize the Ukrainian government of Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and acting President Oleksandr Turchynov.
Lavrov also underlined Moscow's opposition to Ukraine joining NATO, saying it was necessary necessary for Ukraine to have legal guarantees of its "neutrality."