07:07
19.3.2014
The prime minister of Japan, which had already rejected the legitimacy of the occupied-Crimea referendum on joining Russia, further condemns Moscow's actions, Reuters has reported.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told a Japanese parliamentary committee on March 19 that Tokyo views Russian President Vladimir Putin's signing of a treaty to annex the Black Sea peninsula "as an action which violates the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine." With support reportedly mounting in the United States to suspend Russia's membership of the G8, Abe also said Japan will consult with its Group of Seven allies and look into taking further steps against Russia.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told a Japanese parliamentary committee on March 19 that Tokyo views Russian President Vladimir Putin's signing of a treaty to annex the Black Sea peninsula "as an action which violates the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine." With support reportedly mounting in the United States to suspend Russia's membership of the G8, Abe also said Japan will consult with its Group of Seven allies and look into taking further steps against Russia.
22:22
18.3.2014
With this exception from our News desk, via agencies:
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is urging an immediate resumption of "constructive dialogue" to resolve the crisis in Ukraine. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Ban has intensified his diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions and has had high-level contacts with all of the main parties involved. The UN Security Council has announced that it will hold a public meeting on Ukraine on March 19 to hear briefings by UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson and UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Simonovic on their recent visits to Ukraine.
On March 15, the eve of the Crimean referendum, Russia vetoed a U.S.-sponsored resolution that would have declared that vote illegal.
On March 15, the eve of the Crimean referendum, Russia vetoed a U.S.-sponsored resolution that would have declared that vote illegal.
22:19
18.3.2014
Barring major developments, this concludes our live blogging for March 18.
21:52
18.3.2014
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has condemned Russia's move to annex Ukraine's Crimea region, saying Moscow had embarked on a "dangerous path." Speaking in Brussels, he said, "I condemn President Putin's announcement of new laws incorporating Crimea into the Russian Federation." Rasmussen also said that "Russia has disregarded all calls to step back into line with international law." He added that continued steps by Russia "can only deepen Russia's international isolation."
20:50
18.3.2014
Acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov tells a news conference in Kyiv that he wants to "remind you of the history."
"World War II started with fascist Germany's annexation of territories belonging to other states. Today Russian President Putin, who likes to talk about fascism, is repeating the actions of the fascists of the last century by annexing the territory of an independent state which is recognized by the entire world."
"World War II started with fascist Germany's annexation of territories belonging to other states. Today Russian President Putin, who likes to talk about fascism, is repeating the actions of the fascists of the last century by annexing the territory of an independent state which is recognized by the entire world."
20:46
18.3.2014
Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov tells BBC that "the use of forces in the eastern regions" of Ukraine is "not on the agenda" and "out of the question," then adds, "We don't want to make any forecasts [about] bloodshed that can occur in the eastern regions, because if [the] Ukrainian government pays no attention to the gravest situation in the eastern regions then the consequences may be very, very bad."
He goes on to say: "We are not speaking about military actions in the eastern regions of Ukraine...Russia will do whatever is possible, using all legal means -- legal means in total correspondence with international law -- to protect and to extend a helping hand to Russians living in the eastern regions of Ukraine."
He goes on to say: "We are not speaking about military actions in the eastern regions of Ukraine...Russia will do whatever is possible, using all legal means -- legal means in total correspondence with international law -- to protect and to extend a helping hand to Russians living in the eastern regions of Ukraine."
20:15
18.3.2014
Two deaths have now been reported in Crimea.
Ukrainian officials had said earlier that a Ukrainian soldier had been shot dead when gunmen attacked a base on the outskirts of Simferopol, prompting Prime Minister Yatsenyuk to say the conflict with Russia had entered a "military stage."
Now, a spokeswoman for Crimea's police force says a member of a pro-Russian "self-defense" force was killed in the same incident.
She blamed both deaths on gunfire from unidentified attackers.
Ukrainian officials had said earlier that a Ukrainian soldier had been shot dead when gunmen attacked a base on the outskirts of Simferopol, prompting Prime Minister Yatsenyuk to say the conflict with Russia had entered a "military stage."
Now, a spokeswoman for Crimea's police force says a member of a pro-Russian "self-defense" force was killed in the same incident.
She blamed both deaths on gunfire from unidentified attackers.
19:45
18.3.2014
In an interview from London with RFE/RL's North Caucasus Service, exiled Chechen separatist leader Akhmed Zakayev spoke about today's report that Chechen rebel leader Doku Umarov is dead. He alleged a connection between the timing of the (unconfirmed) announcement and events in Ukraine, suggesting that news about the Islamist rebel was being employed to smear Crimean Tatars:
"Now the Ukrainian situation has emerged giving [Russian authorities] a chance to abuse this organization [Caucasus Emirate] in the context of Ukraine, and Crimea in particular, since most Crimean Tatars -- actually, almost all of them -- are Muslims. In order to discredit their idea and quest for self-determination using the Islamic factor in its most perverse form and to fabricate a connection between the movement of Crimean Tatars and these sort of organizations, they came up with Doku Umarov again."
19:08
18.3.2014
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry tells an audience of students in Washington: "I was really struck and somewhat surprised and even disappointed by the interpretations and the facts as they were articulated by [Russian] President [Vladimir Putin]. With all due respect, they really just didn't jibe with reality or with what's happening on the ground. The president may have his version of history, but I believe that he and Russia for what they have done are on the wrong side of history."
18:37
18.3.2014
Video of the burial today of Crimean Tatar Reshat Ametov, a 39-year-old father of three who was found dead nearly two weeks after going missing following his participation in a March 3 protest against the presence of Russian troops in Crimea.