17:38
14.5.2014
Speaking today at roundtable talks in Kyiv, acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov said:
"It is being now said that [we] do not want to listen to the Donetsk region. We want to listen. But in order to listen to people, there is no need to shoot, there is no need to rob, there is no need to seize buildings. We are open to the dialogue. Both the parliament and the cabinet of ministers are ready for comprehensive changes."
"Those who with arms in their hands are trying to pursue a war against their own country, those who with arms in their hands, are trying to dictate the will of the other country, will be subject to certain measures according to the current legislation and constitution. They will stand before the court. We will not allow [them] to terrorize and blackmail Donetsk and Luhansk regions as well as the whole Ukraine."
"Those who with arms in their hands are trying to pursue a war against their own country, those who with arms in their hands, are trying to dictate the will of the other country, will be subject to certain measures according to the current legislation and constitution. They will stand before the court. We will not allow [them] to terrorize and blackmail Donetsk and Luhansk regions as well as the whole Ukraine."
17:35
14.5.2014
In this video by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, hundreds of residents of Dnipropetrovsk take part in a memorial service for Oleh Eismant, a member of the Ukrainian security forces who was killed during clashes with pro-Russian rebels in the eastern city of Mariupol.
16:53
14.5.2014
The OSCE's monitoring mission in eastern Ukraine files its latest report:
16:52
14.5.2014
Video from our Ukraine Service. Hundreds of residents of Dnipropetrovsk took part in a memorial service for Oleh Eismant, a member of Ukrainian security forces who was killed during clashes with pro-Russian rebels in the eastern city of Mariupol.
16:31
14.5.2014
From our news desk:
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland says that measures taken against Russia after its annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region are already "starting to bite."
Nuland made the statement during a security conference on May 14 in Slovakia's capital, Bratislava.
She also said that it was important that people in the eastern Ukrainian cities of Donetsk and Luhansk had a chance to cast ballots in the May 25 presidential vote.
On May 13, Nuland, speaking during a visit to Estonia, said the Russian rouble has devalued against the dollar by some 20 percent, and the International Monetary Fund has declared that Russia is "on the verge of recession." (Reuters and Interfax)
Nuland made the statement during a security conference on May 14 in Slovakia's capital, Bratislava.
She also said that it was important that people in the eastern Ukrainian cities of Donetsk and Luhansk had a chance to cast ballots in the May 25 presidential vote.
On May 13, Nuland, speaking during a visit to Estonia, said the Russian rouble has devalued against the dollar by some 20 percent, and the International Monetary Fund has declared that Russia is "on the verge of recession." (Reuters and Interfax)
16:25
14.5.2014
Our news desk has updated the story on today's roundtable talks:
The Ukrainian government has launched roundtable talks in an effort to de-escalate the crisis in the country's east.
The May 14 talks are attended by former leaders, government officials and lawmakers -- but not pro-Russia separatists waging an armed insurgency in the east of the country.
Acting President Oleksander Turchynov opening the talks said that the government is ready for a dialogue with the regions, but will not bow to "blackmail" by the pro-Russia armed rebels.
Turchynov said, "Those with weapons in hand who are waging a war against their own country and dictating the will of a neighboring country will answer before the law. "
The talks are being chaired by Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk
The talks in Kyiv are based on a road map presented by the OSCE.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said the more representatives were present at the talks, the better. But she also said only those who reject violence should participate.
Russia has voiced support for the OSCE plan, but it has also accused Ukraine's pro-Western government of refusing "real dialogue" with the rebels in eastern Ukraine.
The May 14 talks are attended by former leaders, government officials and lawmakers -- but not pro-Russia separatists waging an armed insurgency in the east of the country.
Acting President Oleksander Turchynov opening the talks said that the government is ready for a dialogue with the regions, but will not bow to "blackmail" by the pro-Russia armed rebels.
Turchynov said, "Those with weapons in hand who are waging a war against their own country and dictating the will of a neighboring country will answer before the law. "
The talks are being chaired by Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk
The talks in Kyiv are based on a road map presented by the OSCE.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said the more representatives were present at the talks, the better. But she also said only those who reject violence should participate.
Russia has voiced support for the OSCE plan, but it has also accused Ukraine's pro-Western government of refusing "real dialogue" with the rebels in eastern Ukraine.
16:13
14.5.2014
15:56
14.5.2014
Kyiv roundtable video feed:
or here:
or here:
15:55
14.5.2014
Reports of the latest abduction in Luhansk:
15:38
14.5.2014