09:37
22.4.2014
09:40
22.4.2014
Our news desk had some more details on Biden's remarks in Kyiv:
Speaking on a visit to Kyiv, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has said that the United States stands ready to help Ukraine's economy but said more must be done to fight the "cancer" of corruption.
Saying Ukraine faces humiliating threats and daunting problems, Biden said the United States was ready to assist its leaders in seizing a chance to create national unity and energy independence.
Biden is on the final day of a high-profile visit to express Washington's support for the Ukrainian leadership amid the crisis with Russia.
Speaking to Ukrainian members of parliament in Kyiv, Biden said the country's May 25 presidential election will be the most important vote in its history.
Biden also met on April 22 with acting President Oleksandr Turchynov and is due to hold talks with Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk.
He is expected to announce a package of technical assistance to Ukraine, focused on energy and economic aid.
Saying Ukraine faces humiliating threats and daunting problems, Biden said the United States was ready to assist its leaders in seizing a chance to create national unity and energy independence.
Biden is on the final day of a high-profile visit to express Washington's support for the Ukrainian leadership amid the crisis with Russia.
Speaking to Ukrainian members of parliament in Kyiv, Biden said the country's May 25 presidential election will be the most important vote in its history.
Biden also met on April 22 with acting President Oleksandr Turchynov and is due to hold talks with Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk.
He is expected to announce a package of technical assistance to Ukraine, focused on energy and economic aid.
10:08
22.4.2014
10:17
22.4.2014
!!! BREAKING NEWS !!!
In what appears to be a major development, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service is reporting that Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Dzhemilev has been barred from entering Crimea for the next five years.
10:26
22.4.2014
.@VP in Ukraine's parliament today: 'May elections will be most important in Ukraine's history' via @LesyaOrobets pic.twitter.com/ZAVk0UEP92
— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) April 22, 2014
10:28
22.4.2014
10:35
22.4.2014
RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service had more details on Mustafa Dzhemilev's "banishment" from Crimea:
Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Dzhemilev has been barred from entering Crimea for the next five years.
A spokeswoman for the Mejlis, the Crimean Tatars' assembly, said Dzhemilev was informed he was persona non grata until 2019 as he crossed to mainland Ukraine early on April 22.
The order came three days after he was briefly detained at a checkpoint while entering Crimea.
Dzhemilev has accused Crimea's new pro-Russian government of overseeing what he says is a campaign of repression against Crimean Tatars since the peninsula was annexed by Russia last month.
He says many Crimean Tatars have already lost their jobs after refusing to apply for a Russian passport.
The Mejlis has refused to recognize Crimea's new leadership and the referendum on Crimea's cessation from Ukraine.
A spokeswoman for the Mejlis, the Crimean Tatars' assembly, said Dzhemilev was informed he was persona non grata until 2019 as he crossed to mainland Ukraine early on April 22.
The order came three days after he was briefly detained at a checkpoint while entering Crimea.
Dzhemilev has accused Crimea's new pro-Russian government of overseeing what he says is a campaign of repression against Crimean Tatars since the peninsula was annexed by Russia last month.
He says many Crimean Tatars have already lost their jobs after refusing to apply for a Russian passport.
The Mejlis has refused to recognize Crimea's new leadership and the referendum on Crimea's cessation from Ukraine.
10:46
22.4.2014
Meanwhile, in Moscow...
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has told the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, that Russia's economy faces unprecedented pressure from the troubled world economy.
Medvedev told the April 22 Duma session that the continuing problems facing the global economy will also impact Russia, adding that the "diplomatic climate" and domestic structural issues are also likely to have a negative effect.
Medvedev said the Russian government is working to "minimize" the effects of international sanctions being imposed on the country since Russia annexed Crimea last month.
Medvedev said those sanctions would not force the government to make any big changes to Russia's economic plans and pledged that "all social obligations will be fulfilled." (from RFE/RL's news desk)
Medvedev told the April 22 Duma session that the continuing problems facing the global economy will also impact Russia, adding that the "diplomatic climate" and domestic structural issues are also likely to have a negative effect.
Medvedev said the Russian government is working to "minimize" the effects of international sanctions being imposed on the country since Russia annexed Crimea last month.
Medvedev said those sanctions would not force the government to make any big changes to Russia's economic plans and pledged that "all social obligations will be fulfilled." (from RFE/RL's news desk)
10:52
22.4.2014
RFE/RL's Russian Service have traveled to Slovyansk, the eastern city beside the site of a deadly fire-fight at the weekend. They took this taxi ride around the troubled town:
11:20
22.4.2014