16:58
13.5.2014
From "The Moscow Times":
The youngest son of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, has been appointed head of legal affairs at Ukraine's largest private gas producer — a move he said would benefit Ukrainians and the country's economy.
In a statement published on its website, Burisma Holdings announced Hunter Biden would join its board of directors and head the company's legal unit.
"As a new member of the board, I believe that my assistance in consulting the company on matters of transparency, corporate governance and responsibility, international expansion and other priorities will contribute to the economy and benefit the people of Ukraine," Hunter Biden said in the statement.
Burisma owns several Ukrainian oil and gas companies, including Esko Pivnich and Pari, Lenta.ru reported Tuesday. The company also has assets in Ukraine's Dnepr-Donetsk, the Carpathian and the Azov-Kuvan basins.
In a statement published on its website, Burisma Holdings announced Hunter Biden would join its board of directors and head the company's legal unit.
"As a new member of the board, I believe that my assistance in consulting the company on matters of transparency, corporate governance and responsibility, international expansion and other priorities will contribute to the economy and benefit the people of Ukraine," Hunter Biden said in the statement.
Burisma owns several Ukrainian oil and gas companies, including Esko Pivnich and Pari, Lenta.ru reported Tuesday. The company also has assets in Ukraine's Dnepr-Donetsk, the Carpathian and the Azov-Kuvan basins.
16:58
13.5.2014
Lugansk separatists claim leader Valery Bolotov survived an assassination attempt today: http://t.co/Xeq7IjfZdT
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) May 13, 2014
16:55
13.5.2014
Another update from RFE/RL's news desk:
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has said it is "critically important" to find a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis.
Barroso called on Russia to engage constructively and urged Moscow not to use energy as a political weapon.
He was speaking after talks with Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk in Brussels today.
Earlier today, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on a visit to Kyiv that Germany will assist efforts to start "roundtable talks" between Ukraine's government and its opponents in the east of the country.
Yatsenyuk said the key to resolving the destabilizing situation in Ukraine "is not in Kyiv but in Moscow."
Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry said it expects pro-Russian separatists to comply with the OSCE roadmap for resolving the crisis if Kyiv authorities stop a military operation in eastern Ukraine.
Barroso called on Russia to engage constructively and urged Moscow not to use energy as a political weapon.
He was speaking after talks with Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk in Brussels today.
Earlier today, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on a visit to Kyiv that Germany will assist efforts to start "roundtable talks" between Ukraine's government and its opponents in the east of the country.
Yatsenyuk said the key to resolving the destabilizing situation in Ukraine "is not in Kyiv but in Moscow."
Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry said it expects pro-Russian separatists to comply with the OSCE roadmap for resolving the crisis if Kyiv authorities stop a military operation in eastern Ukraine.
16:50
13.5.2014
Roshen candy, Ukrainian milk, and Moldovan alcohol banned from Crimea, vua @zn_ua http://t.co/Ppg8kbE2i8 pic.twitter.com/k0c5PNDUkI
— Isaac Webb (@isaacdwebb) May 13, 2014
16:49
13.5.2014
Armed separatist rebels ambushed #Ukraine paratroopers in #Kramatorsk at ~1pm. Dead & injured, says @DmitryTymchuk https://t.co/LfOj57glFc
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) May 13, 2014
16:08
13.5.2014
Some news coming in from RFE/RL's Moldovan Service: It seems like Chisinau is taking a step closer to the EU. It's a safe bet to say that Kyiv will be closely watching how that pans out:
European Council President Herman Van Rompuy has invited Moldova's Prime Minister Iurie Leanca to sign a key political and economic deal with the European Union on June 27 in Brussels.
Van Rompuy extended the invitation during a meeting with Leanca in Moldova's capital, Chisinau.
The signing of the Association Agreement is expected to take place on the sidelines of an EU summit.
Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti said yesterday that Moldova will exercise its "sovereign right" and sign the agreement despite external political and economic pressures.
Timofti did not name Russia in his comments, but Moscow opposes Moldova seeking that deal with the EU, which Chisinau hopes to sign in June.
Moldova initialed the Association Agreement at a summit in Vilnius in November.
Van Rompuy extended the invitation during a meeting with Leanca in Moldova's capital, Chisinau.
The signing of the Association Agreement is expected to take place on the sidelines of an EU summit.
Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti said yesterday that Moldova will exercise its "sovereign right" and sign the agreement despite external political and economic pressures.
Timofti did not name Russia in his comments, but Moscow opposes Moldova seeking that deal with the EU, which Chisinau hopes to sign in June.
Moldova initialed the Association Agreement at a summit in Vilnius in November.
-- with reporting by Alexandru Eftode and Mircea Ticudean
16:01
13.5.2014
Ukraine MoFA calls in Hungarian ambassador for talks after PM Orban calls for autonomy and dual citizenship in Zakarptya oblast
— bruce springnote (@BSpringnote) May 13, 2014
15:53
13.5.2014
Very pleased to welcome Prime Minister #Yatseniuk & his team for talks @EU_Commission, press conf @ 15h @EC_AVService pic.twitter.com/UDvM0uiT1h
— José Manuel Barroso (@BarrosoEU) May 13, 2014
15:13
13.5.2014
Another update from our news desk on Frank-Walter Steinmeier's diplomatic efforts:
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier says he hopes "roundtable" talks between politicians and civic groups will help to disarm pro-Russian separatists and improve the atmosphere for the May 25 presidential election.
Steinmeier, speaking in Kyiv after talks with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, called for the release of all hostages in eastern Ukraine and for separatists to vacate seized government buildings.
He said the situation in certain parts of Ukraine remains "dangerous and threatening."
Steinmeier also met with acting Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya and acting President President Oleksandr Turchynov before flying to Odesa.
But Yatsenyuk said the key to resolving the destabilizing situation in Ukraine "is not in Kyiv but in Moscow."
Yatsenyuk also thanked German diplomat Wolfgang Ischinger, organizer of Munich's annual security conference, for offering to moderate any round-table talks.
Steinmeier, speaking in Kyiv after talks with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, called for the release of all hostages in eastern Ukraine and for separatists to vacate seized government buildings.
He said the situation in certain parts of Ukraine remains "dangerous and threatening."
Steinmeier also met with acting Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya and acting President President Oleksandr Turchynov before flying to Odesa.
But Yatsenyuk said the key to resolving the destabilizing situation in Ukraine "is not in Kyiv but in Moscow."
Yatsenyuk also thanked German diplomat Wolfgang Ischinger, organizer of Munich's annual security conference, for offering to moderate any round-table talks.
14:33
13.5.2014
Kiev-appointed governor Serhiy Taruta meets the press in Donetsk today. Vows May 25 election will happen: pic.twitter.com/sJbqQdfKij
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) May 13, 2014