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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.

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
12:37 18.2.2014
The nationalist Svoboda party tweeted this picture -- apparently of bullet casings from clashes today.

13:09 18.2.2014
The chief Euromaidan medic, Olga Bohomolets, and a lawmaker from the opposition Fatherland party, Lesiya Orobets, say that three protesters have been killed. Others, she says, are in critical condition. They are apparently in the House of Officers, which was seized today.

13:35 18.2.2014
More disturbing scenes, via our Ukrainian Service. Police are shown badly beaten. Some protesters try to help bring them to safety, while others go for more.


13:49 18.2.2014
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has threatened an "appropriate response" after protesters today seized the Central House of the Officers of the Armed Forces (Officers' House). The military has avoided involvement in the mass protests that began in Kyiv three months ago.
14:07 18.2.2014
Via our Ukrainian Service, the western cities of Lviv and Ternopil have called for a "general mobilization" and have sent convoys of buses to Kyiv.
14:28 18.2.2014
The Ukrainian Interior Ministry has issued an ultimatum. Protesters are to cease "riots" by 6 PM Kyiv time (1.5 hours from now).

Various reports say riot police are moving towards Independence Square -- the site of the 3 months old opposition encampment.
14:40 18.2.2014
The heads of the president's security services have issued a joint statement, warning that "extremists from the opposition have crossed the line."

"Their one goal, even at the cost of human blood, is to grab a hold of power."

"We cannot allow a further escalation of the conflict," the statement says. "Ordinary citizens are turning to the authorities to restore order and to return peace and stability to Ukraine...If at 1800 the atrocities don't stop, we will have to clean up this mess, by all means available under the law."
14:53 18.2.2014
Via our Ukrainian Service: The Independence Square Metro station is closed, officially because of "a threat of a terror attack."
14:58 18.2.2014
15:11 18.2.2014
A correspondent for Interfax Ukraine says the bodies of a man and a woman, between 50 and 60 years old, have been seen near Independence Square barricades. A police spokesperson has confirmed five deaths, according to AP.

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