-- The UN General Assembly has passed a resolution that affirms Ukraine's territorial integrity.
-- The IMF has announced "a staff-level agreement" with Kyiv on assistance of $14 billion-$18 billion in conjunction with a reform program that will "unlock" up to $27 billion over the next two years, pending final approval next month. Tthe U.S. Congress has also passed an aid bill for Ukraine.
-- Ex-PM Yulia Tymoshenko has announced plans to run for president.
-- Members of the Right Sector have been holding a demonstration outside the Ukrainian parliament building to vent their anger at the killing of prominent member Oleksander Muzychkoearlier in the week.
-- Six Ukrainian military officers detained by pro-Russian troops in Crimea have been released, including Colonel Yuliy Mamchur, but five others are still being held captive.
-- Anonymous sources quoted by CNN say U.S. intelligence "concludes it is more likely than previously thought that Russian forces will enter eastern Ukraine."
-- U.S. President Barack Obama, in the keynote speech of his visit to Europe, chided Russia for its use of "brute force" in Ukraine and vowed that a determined alliance of the United States and Europe will prevail over time.
*NOTE: Times are stated according to local time in Kyiv
Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov: Government will "stand behind" Russian individuals and businesses hit by U.S. sanctions.
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More excerpts from Ukrainian Prime Minister Yatsenyuk's remarks in Brussels after today's signing of the EU Association Agreement's political provisions, via our Brussels correspondent:
"I do believe that we need to consider the energy independence of the entire European Union. It is urgently needed to overhaul the entire energy security and energy policy in Ukraine mainly and we do understand that probably the EU is to speak in one strong, single voice, creating one united and single energy policy."
"The best way is to diversify energy flows and it is urgent for Ukraine to get a reversed flow as Russia violates all deals and all treaties signed between Ukraine and Russia. is to increase, is to double the price for natural gas, this is the way how Russia punish Ukraine for its European choice."
"You need to pay the price and we all need to pay the price for peace, stability, security and values. And I strongly believe that the EU acknowledges this, realizes this and the EU will speak in one single and strong voice protecting the values, defending the territorial integrity of Ukraine and protecting actually the EU itself, because God knows where is the final destination? Is it Ukraine or is the EU?"
"The best way to contain Russia is to impose real economic leverage over them. What is happening? They are selling gas and oil mainly to the European Union, then they take euros, dollars and pounds and buy armaments, armed vehicles, tanks and invade an independent country. This is the wrong business."
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All parties should refrain from inflammatory rhetoric, Ban says, adding that such remarks "only generate emotions which may lead to uncontrollable situations."
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Ban adds that Ukraine and Russia "should sit down together and engage in direct and constructive dialogue." He says he has urged Putin and Turchynov to do so.
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Ban Ki-moon says in Kyiv that "the world is watching and history will judge us."
Ban Ki-moon says he is encouraged to see signs of greater inclusion in Ukraine and praises the start of a planned UN rights monitoring mission in Ukraine.
12:2321.3.2014
The Russian Embassy in London tells Britain to "mind its language" following this strong-worded tweet from the British Embassy in Moscow.
As is known, the British sense of style doomed Sir Oswald Mosley’s guys. Does the same sense put up with the sight of Svoboda thugs, armed with baseball bats, roughing up Ukrainian TV Channel One head Panteleymonov and others who disagree with them? We have not seen London’s reaction to that.
Russian armed forces installed pro-Russian puppet administration and rail-roaded through referendum vote illegal. #Crimea#Ukraine
In Kyiv, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he came with a "heavy heart." These are "some of the most dramatic and difficult times in the history of Ukraine," he says, stressing his concerns about tensions within Ukraine and between Kyiv and Moscow. Acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov thanks Ban for visiting Ukraine in "those difficult and dramatic times." Turchynov says Ukraine will never accept the occupation of Crimea and will do its best to return Crimea to Ukrainian sovereignty.
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Great map from our newsroom highlighting Russian ethnic and linguistic ties among Russia's neighbors.
