13:37
17.5.2014
13:31
17.5.2014
Aleksei Kudrin, Russia's former finance minister, says Moscow will not face full isolation over Ukraine crisis. This via Interfax:
VLADIVOSTOK. May 17 (Interfax) - Former Russian Finance Minister and member of the presidium of the presidential Economic Council Alexei Kudrin believes Russia is not facing full isolation because of the events in Ukraine and the U.S.' and the EU's sanctions.
"I don't believe in a scenario of full political or economic isolation. I don't think the things will go this far. After all, I hope we, as a country, and our leadership feel where this line is and where the damage will be significant for the economy. I am sure everyone is assessing this," Kudrin said in an interview shown in a Saturday TV program hosted by Marianna Maksimovskaya on REN-TV channel on Saturday.
"I think everyone will be looking for a political solution," Kudrin said.
"I don't believe in a scenario of full political or economic isolation. I don't think the things will go this far. After all, I hope we, as a country, and our leadership feel where this line is and where the damage will be significant for the economy. I am sure everyone is assessing this," Kudrin said in an interview shown in a Saturday TV program hosted by Marianna Maksimovskaya on REN-TV channel on Saturday.
"I think everyone will be looking for a political solution," Kudrin said.
13:26
17.5.2014
In case you haven't seen it, here's a strong piece by RFE/RL's Claire Bigg on systematic torture in eastern Ukraine:
Read the whole report here.
When he ripped down a separatist flag from the main government building in Novohradovka, his hometown in eastern Ukraine, Oleksandr Hurov knew he was in for trouble.
Retaliation was quick, and ruthless.
Two weeks later, the 36-year-old coalminer lies in a Kyiv hospital with a fractured jaw, a broken nose, a lacerated arm, and cracked ribs.
Retaliation was quick, and ruthless.
Two weeks later, the 36-year-old coalminer lies in a Kyiv hospital with a fractured jaw, a broken nose, a lacerated arm, and cracked ribs.
Read the whole report here.
13:22
17.5.2014
13:20
17.5.2014
Hromadske TV reporting that separatists in Donetsk want to introduce the ruble.
"Donetsk Pseudo-Republic wants to give up the hryvna for the ruble."
"Donetsk Pseudo-Republic wants to give up the hryvna for the ruble."
13:13
17.5.2014
The Kyiv Post weighs in on France's deal to sell MIstral warships to Russia:
Read it all here.
The sale of two French Mistral class warships to Russia is making waves on both sides of the Atlantic.
When the French government signed a $1.6 billion contract in 2010 to sell Russia the two amphibious assault ships, no one envisaged that Russia would annex Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula and threaten a deeper military invasion of the nation.
When the French government signed a $1.6 billion contract in 2010 to sell Russia the two amphibious assault ships, no one envisaged that Russia would annex Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula and threaten a deeper military invasion of the nation.
Read it all here.
13:10
17.5.2014
In editorial, The Kyiv Post criticizes Europe's financial ties to Russia:
Read the whole thing here.
More than two months after Russia destroyed the post-Cold War order by invading and annexing Crimea, European Union heavyweights France, Germany and even Great Britain continue to dither in the face of Vladimir Putin’s aggression.
Their weakness has shown that business lobbies in the three nations are willing to turn a blind eye to Moscow’s war crimes as long as their companies are making money. Now we understand better why two world wars started in Europe and the dangers of appeasement.
Their weakness has shown that business lobbies in the three nations are willing to turn a blind eye to Moscow’s war crimes as long as their companies are making money. Now we understand better why two world wars started in Europe and the dangers of appeasement.
Read the whole thing here.
13:06
17.5.2014
Ukraine says traffic decreased at Russian border crossing in Luhansk Oblast. This via "The Kyiv Post":
Meanwhile, separatists in Donetsk Oblast say they are trying to get Ukrainian border guards there to switch sides. This via Interfax:
KRASNAYA TALOVKA, Luhansk Oblast -- Sergiy Chupryna, a supervisor of border guards on the international border between Luhansk Oblast and Russia at Krasnaya Talovka, said the number of people crossing their checkpoint decreased dramatically over the last months.
“Once we had some 2,000 people crossing the border per day here, but now there are only about 300 people he said.”
Chupryna said that people stopped coming from Russia's Rostov Oblast across the border fearing for their safety in Ukraine. Nevertheless, the borders guards keep watching this place in reinforced protection mode. There are deep anti-tank ditches dug along the border line.
“Once we had some 2,000 people crossing the border per day here, but now there are only about 300 people he said.”
Chupryna said that people stopped coming from Russia's Rostov Oblast across the border fearing for their safety in Ukraine. Nevertheless, the borders guards keep watching this place in reinforced protection mode. There are deep anti-tank ditches dug along the border line.
Meanwhile, separatists in Donetsk Oblast say they are trying to get Ukrainian border guards there to switch sides. This via Interfax:
SLOVYANSK. May 17 (Interfax) - The leadership of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic has started negotiations with Ukrainian border guards controlling the local section of the Ukrainian-Russian border to persuade them to side with them, Donetsk
People Republic Deputy Prime Minister Andriy Purhin said.
People Republic Deputy Prime Minister Andriy Purhin said.
12:58
17.5.2014
Russia quesions whether Ukraine's election can meet "democratic norms." This via AFP.
MOSCOW, May 17, 2014 (AFP) - Moscow on Saturday questioned whether Ukraine's May 25 presidential election can be held democratically amid continued fighting in the east of the country.
"Can elections held amid the thunder of guns really meet the democratic norms of the electoral process?" the foreign ministry said in a statement, urging authorities in Kiev to "immediately end military operations" in the country's southeast.
"Can elections held amid the thunder of guns really meet the democratic norms of the electoral process?" the foreign ministry said in a statement, urging authorities in Kiev to "immediately end military operations" in the country's southeast.
11:26
17.5.2014