14:53
18.3.2014
Masked, armed men raided a car showroom in Simferopol before kidnapping Crimean Tatar journalists reporting live on the takeover.
The assailants have since freed the reporters but kept their camera.
The car showroom is linked to Ukrainian pro-Maidan politician Petro Poroshenko.
The assailants have since freed the reporters but kept their camera.
The car showroom is linked to Ukrainian pro-Maidan politician Petro Poroshenko.
14:46
18.3.2014
RFE/RL Brussels correspondent Rikard Jozwiak just filed this news brief:
The North Atlantic Council has expressed full solidarity with Poland and all other NATO allies that feel under threat from the situation in Ukraine. It was also confirmed that a NATO-Russia Council will take place on March 19.
Poland on March 17 called for the North Atlantic Council to convene under Article 4, which states that NATO nations “will consult whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the parties is threatened.”
The meeting, which is continuing, is currently discussing preparatory work. The NATO ambassadors have, however, stressed that they to support all international efforts to promote a political solution to crisis and maintain all political channels of dialogue with Russia.
Article 4 consultations have been called three times in the past, always by Turkey. The first instance was in 2003 in relation to the war in Iraq, then twice in 2012 due to the Syrian crisis.
Poland on March 17 called for the North Atlantic Council to convene under Article 4, which states that NATO nations “will consult whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the parties is threatened.”
The meeting, which is continuing, is currently discussing preparatory work. The NATO ambassadors have, however, stressed that they to support all international efforts to promote a political solution to crisis and maintain all political channels of dialogue with Russia.
Article 4 consultations have been called three times in the past, always by Turkey. The first instance was in 2003 in relation to the war in Iraq, then twice in 2012 due to the Syrian crisis.
14:39
18.3.2014
Russia's economy minister says Crimea could move to ruble from hryvnia in 2 to 3 months http://t.co/dE7aaRcUBS
— Stephen Wisnefski (@wisnefski) March 18, 2014
14:38
18.3.2014
5 Reasons Vladimir Putin Gave for Annexing Crimea http://t.co/Yn10AaZrmk #ukraine #crimea #putin #russia
— Lukas I. Alpert (@lalpert1) March 18, 2014
14:34
18.3.2014
Media reports say 110,000 people have already gathered on Red Square to celebrate annexation of Crimea. Police says crowds still flocking in.
На Красную площадь уже 110 тысяч человек собрали? Ого, вот это скорость
— Alexey Navalny (@navalny) March 18, 2014
14:31
18.3.2014
Handle this report with care.
Whoa, Putin really is on top of the world: Kavkaz Center says Doku Umarov is dead http://t.co/7YpdX7rUJu (via @ninaivanovna)
— Miriam Elder (@MiriamElder) March 18, 2014
14:27
18.3.2014
Russia's State Duma could vote on annexing Crimea as soon as tomorrow.
ГД уже завтра может рассмотреть закон о присоединении Крыма к РФ http://t.co/li9ozfIvuo
— Радио Свобода (@SvobodaRadio) March 18, 2014
14:23
18.3.2014
U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden says in Poland: "The world has seen through Russia’s actions and has rejected the flawed logic."
14:21
18.3.2014
Russia's treaty annexing Crimea says local residents will automatically become Russian citizens unless they file a request to retain their Ukrainian citizenship. They will have four weeks to do so after the treaty takes effect.
14:18
18.3.2014
From agencies:
NATO member states have condemned Russia's annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea as a "land grab" in violation of international law and warned that Moscow faces the prospect of more Western sanctions.
Britain has announced the suspension of all military cooperation with Russia.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the referendum in Crimea, the declaration of independence by secessionist Crimean lawmakers, and Russia’s annexation of the territory were all against international law.
French President Francois Hollande has urged a "strong" EU response.
Britain has announced the suspension of all military cooperation with Russia.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the referendum in Crimea, the declaration of independence by secessionist Crimean lawmakers, and Russia’s annexation of the territory were all against international law.
French President Francois Hollande has urged a "strong" EU response.