14:21
23.5.2014
14:15
23.5.2014
Some more of Putin's comments from his speech, on the Crimea referendum and annexation:
"If we haven't done that we would have a bigger tragedy there, bigger that what we have seen in some Ukrainian cities, like Odesa, where unarmed people were burned alive in a building."
"So we did not allow such a tragedy to happen in Crimea and I think we did the right thing. And we are asking to approach this without any prejudice, and in unbiased manner."
"What should be done to restore the confidence [among Russia's business partners]? We need to work together, conduct a dialogue."
"If we haven't done that we would have a bigger tragedy there, bigger that what we have seen in some Ukrainian cities, like Odesa, where unarmed people were burned alive in a building."
"So we did not allow such a tragedy to happen in Crimea and I think we did the right thing. And we are asking to approach this without any prejudice, and in unbiased manner."
"What should be done to restore the confidence [among Russia's business partners]? We need to work together, conduct a dialogue."
13:57
23.5.2014
BREAKING: After his speech, Putin took part in a question-and-answer session in which he said Moscow would respect the will of the Ukrainian people in the May 25 presidential election.
He also said Moscow's big concern is that Ukraine will eventually join NATO.
He also said Moscow's big concern is that Ukraine will eventually join NATO.
13:56
23.5.2014
13:36
23.5.2014
13:33
23.5.2014
Short news item on Putin's latest comments.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said sanctions imposed on Russia for its actions in Ukraine will end up having a "boomerang effect" on the Western world.
Speaking at an international business forum in St. Petersburg on May 23, Putin said the EU and the United States are only aggravating the global economic crisis by their actions.
Putin also said the model of a unipolar world has failed and said Moscow must diversity its exports away from energy products.
He slammed Ukraine's current leadership for its inability to pay its natural-gas debts, accusing Kyiv of misusing its role as a transit country for Russian natural gas exports to Europe.
The conference has been boycotted by the leaders of dozens of Western companies in response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its role in the Ukrainian crisis.
Speaking at an international business forum in St. Petersburg on May 23, Putin said the EU and the United States are only aggravating the global economic crisis by their actions.
Putin also said the model of a unipolar world has failed and said Moscow must diversity its exports away from energy products.
He slammed Ukraine's current leadership for its inability to pay its natural-gas debts, accusing Kyiv of misusing its role as a transit country for Russian natural gas exports to Europe.
The conference has been boycotted by the leaders of dozens of Western companies in response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its role in the Ukrainian crisis.
13:09
23.5.2014
12:09
23.5.2014
Amid tensions in Ukraine's east, border guards in Kharkiv Oblast get some relief through entertainment, religious services, and education. Video from our Ukrainian Service.
12:00
23.5.2014
Update from our news desk on Lavrov's comments:
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told an international security conference in Moscow that the West sparked the current conflict in Ukraine by its "megalomania" and needed to learn the "right lesson" from the Ukraine crisis.
Lavrov said at the May 23 conference that in order to help the Ukrainian people out of the crisis, "it is necessary to…stop encouraging xenophobic and neo-Nazi sentiments."
Lavrov accused Western nations of "extending the geopolitical space under their control to the east" after the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall and the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.
Earlier, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu addressed the conference and said Ukraine had "effectively slid into civil war."
Shoigu told delegates that a "hotbed of tension has been artificially created in Europe" and that "foreign values are being forced on people under the guise of democracy."
Lavrov said at the May 23 conference that in order to help the Ukrainian people out of the crisis, "it is necessary to…stop encouraging xenophobic and neo-Nazi sentiments."
Lavrov accused Western nations of "extending the geopolitical space under their control to the east" after the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall and the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.
Earlier, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu addressed the conference and said Ukraine had "effectively slid into civil war."
Shoigu told delegates that a "hotbed of tension has been artificially created in Europe" and that "foreign values are being forced on people under the guise of democracy."