Accessibility links

Subscribe
All RFE/RL sites
site logo site logo
Previous Next
Breaking News
Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a news conference at his country residence of Novo-Ogaryova outside Moscow on March 4.
Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a news conference at his country residence of Novo-Ogaryova outside Moscow on March 4.
Blogs

Live Blog: Ukraine On The Brink

Summary

-- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Kyiv as U.S. officials announced Washington is preparing a $1 billion aid package for Ukraine.

-- Speaking at a press conference at his residence, Russian President Vladimir Putin has called the change of government in Ukraine an "unconstitutional overthrow and an armed seizure of power."

-- Putin also said there are no considerations to annex Crimea and no intentions to provoke separatist sentiment. He said it is up to the citizens of Crimea to determine their own future.

-- In Crimea, there are standoffs between Russian and Ukrainian troops in their bases, with conflicting reports of ultimatums given to Ukrainian troops to surrender that come and pass.

-- Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin has said that Ukraine's ousted President Viktor Yanukovych sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin requesting that he use the Russian military to restore law and order in his country.

-- In eastern Ukraine, pro-Russian demonstrators have occupied part of the regional government building in the city of Donetsk. Meanwhile, a few hundred pro-Russian activists tried but failed to force their way into the regional administration building in the southern city of Odesa.

NOTE: Live blog updates are listed according to local time in Kyiv

-- Glenn Kates / Luke Allnutt / Coilin O'Connor / Dan Wisniewski
07:02 21.2.2014
This is Coilin O'Connor taking over live blogging duties. Some news just in:

Ukraine's presidential press service says an agreement on resolving the crisis in the country was reached at all-night talks involving President Viktor Yanukovych, the opposition, and EU foreign ministers.

In a statement, it said the deal would be initialed at noon local time, but gave no details.

The opposition and EU ministers did not immediately confirm agreement had been reached.

The announcement comes not long after overnight talks between EU ministers and the government to end the bloody crisis in Ukraine ended in Kyiv.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski tweeted early this morning that "after negotiations through the night, talks ended" at 7:20 a.m. local time. He did not elaborate.



Reports say the EU plans to sit down again with President Viktor Yanukovych before noon tomorrow.

Earlier, France's Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius had described the marathon talks as "very difficult," while Sikorski reported some progress.

Russian mediator Vladimir Lukin was also reportedly taking part in the talks.

In Brussels yesterday, EU ministers imposed a visa ban and asset freeze on Ukranian officials responsible for the bloodshed in Ukraine.

The Health Ministry said 77 people have been killed since Tuesday, meaning at least 47 had died in yesterday's clashes. (with reporting by Reuters and AP)
00:32 21.2.2014
00:24 21.2.2014
00:21 21.2.2014
00:16 21.2.2014
23:58 20.2.2014
23:55 20.2.2014
23:29 20.2.2014
23:25 20.2.2014
23:24 20.2.2014
Petro Poroshenko is an opposition member of parliament:

Load more

Back to top
XS
SM
MD
LG