10:43
20.3.2014
Here's a video of U.S. President Barack Obama ruling out a military intervention in Ukraine:
10:39
20.3.2014
According to RFE/RL's newsdesk, reports from Crimea say that Ukraine's navy chief Admiral Serhiy Haiduk who was arrested yesterday, has been released along with seven other detainees.
10:36
20.3.2014
RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reports that the US National Geographic Society will now shade Crimea in grey on its maps to indicate an "area of special status."
This contradicts previous reports that it would alter its maps to include Crimea in the Russian Federation.
This contradicts previous reports that it would alter its maps to include Crimea in the Russian Federation.
Крим зафарбують сірим на американських картах http://t.co/GImXq7pVu9
— Радіо Свобода (@radiosvoboda) March 20, 2014
10:24
20.3.2014
Crimea-themed matryoshka dolls!
Brilliant. Russian Matryoshka dolls decked out as "unidentified self defense forces" in #Crimea pic.twitter.com/isdK6JNwNu h/t @astroehlein
— Lucy Kafanov (@LucyKafanov) March 20, 2014
10:19
20.3.2014
Patriarch Filaret, the leader of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church's Kyivan Patriarchate, says Putin has used "the methods of the devil" and violated three Commandments.
Патріарх Філарает: Путін використав засіб диявола http://t.co/KiSafEpAe1
— Українська правда (@ukrpravda_news) March 20, 2014
10:06
20.3.2014
Ukrainians overwhelmingly back introduction of visa regime with Russia in "Ukraiynska Pravda" poll.
Дякуємо всім за відповіді.про візи! більшість читачів висловились за візи. лише кілька людей були проти, але за вїзд по закордон паспортах
— Українська правда (@ukrpravda_news) March 20, 2014
09:59
20.3.2014
With Russia's annexation of Crimea, many eyes are now on Transdniester:
The Russian government is expected to discuss the situation in Moldova's breakaway region of Transdniester today.
Transdniester's leader, Yevgeny Shevchuk, meanwhile, has arrived in Moscow for consultations.
Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Dmitri Rogozin said two days ago that ministers will discuss Transdniester's "economic isolation," which he said would deepen if Moldova signs an association and free-trade deal with the EU as expected in September.
Rogozin complained that Ukraine was blocking supplies from reaching Russian troops in Transdniester.
The mainly Russian-speaking Transdniester broke away in 1990 over fears Moldova would reunite with neighboring Romania.
Some 1,400 Russian troops are stationed in the region.
Moldova's President Nicolae Timofti has warned Russia against any move to annex Transdniester in the same way it took control of Ukraine's Crimea. (Interfax, RIA Novosti)
The Russian government is expected to discuss the situation in Moldova's breakaway region of Transdniester today.
Transdniester's leader, Yevgeny Shevchuk, meanwhile, has arrived in Moscow for consultations.
Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Dmitri Rogozin said two days ago that ministers will discuss Transdniester's "economic isolation," which he said would deepen if Moldova signs an association and free-trade deal with the EU as expected in September.
Rogozin complained that Ukraine was blocking supplies from reaching Russian troops in Transdniester.
The mainly Russian-speaking Transdniester broke away in 1990 over fears Moldova would reunite with neighboring Romania.
Some 1,400 Russian troops are stationed in the region.
Moldova's President Nicolae Timofti has warned Russia against any move to annex Transdniester in the same way it took control of Ukraine's Crimea. (Interfax, RIA Novosti)
09:58
20.3.2014
. @RFERL has learned that ystrday's reports that National Geographic will show Crimea as part of Russia on maps were not true. Story coming.
— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) March 20, 2014
09:49
20.3.2014
Crimea has cancelled its spring military conscription into the Russian army. Crimea's acting military commissioner made the announcement today, one day after Crimean leader Sergei Aksyonov said local conscripts would start serving in the Russian army this spring, including in Chechnya and Dagestan.
09:47
20.3.2014
Here's another update from our newsdesk:
Russia's State Duma is holding a special session to ratify the agreement that makes Crimea a part of the Russian Federation.
Elsewhere, in a speech to parliament, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said EU leaders would signal their readiness to ramp up punitive measures against Russia, including economic sanctions today's summit.
She said the EU could introduce what she called "Phase-3 measures" if there is a "worsening" of the situation in Ukraine.
She added that current tensions with Moscow mean the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations does not effectively exist at present.
Russia's State Duma is holding a special session to ratify the agreement that makes Crimea a part of the Russian Federation.
Elsewhere, in a speech to parliament, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said EU leaders would signal their readiness to ramp up punitive measures against Russia, including economic sanctions today's summit.
She said the EU could introduce what she called "Phase-3 measures" if there is a "worsening" of the situation in Ukraine.
She added that current tensions with Moscow mean the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations does not effectively exist at present.