15:03
22.3.2014
Live feed shows Russian armored vehicle at the gate of the Belbek airbase, near Sevastopol.
14:59
22.3.2014
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is in Kyiv today, meeting with Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. Here are some bites from Harper's presser:
"For Ukraine, the consequences of the actions of the Putin regime are obvious and can only be remedied by their complete reversal. Furthermore, all of us who desire peace and stability in the world must recognize that the consequences of these actions will be felt far beyond the borders of Ukraine, or even the European continent itself."
"Ukraine relinquished the nuclear weapons it inherited from the former Soviet Union on the basis of an explicit Russian guarantee of its territorial integrity. By breaching that guarantee, [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin has provided a rationale for those elsewhere, who needed little more encouragement than that already furnished by pride or grievance, to arm themselves to the teeth."
"Canada is willing to provide an array of technical and other assistance and financial assistance in the context of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) package and we are encouraging the International Monetary Fund to expedite those discussions with the Ukrainian government"
"For Ukraine, the consequences of the actions of the Putin regime are obvious and can only be remedied by their complete reversal. Furthermore, all of us who desire peace and stability in the world must recognize that the consequences of these actions will be felt far beyond the borders of Ukraine, or even the European continent itself."
"Ukraine relinquished the nuclear weapons it inherited from the former Soviet Union on the basis of an explicit Russian guarantee of its territorial integrity. By breaching that guarantee, [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin has provided a rationale for those elsewhere, who needed little more encouragement than that already furnished by pride or grievance, to arm themselves to the teeth."
"Canada is willing to provide an array of technical and other assistance and financial assistance in the context of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) package and we are encouraging the International Monetary Fund to expedite those discussions with the Ukrainian government"
14:59
22.3.2014
Standoff continues at military base in Belbek. Here are some recent tweets and pix:
Standoff between Russians and Ukrainians at Belbek. Russians on base, warning shots, stun grenades. Ukrainians mostly unarmed, shouting.
— Alexander Marquardt (@MarquardtA) March 22, 2014
Бельбек: росіяни БТРом таранять в'їзд у в/ч. намагаються ламати ворота pic.twitter.com/2OKVMNMcqN
— Українська правда (@ukrpravda_news) March 22, 2014
The gate at Belbek air force base has been smashed by an APC. Screengrab via @russiannavyblog pic.twitter.com/7QVkdnHjhG
— max seddon (@maxseddon) March 22, 2014
BTR smashes through #Belbek gate | Livestream @ http://t.co/lGkZN8UBTn | #ukraine #Crimea #russia | pic.twitter.com/jRh04mEho2
— Harriet Salem (@HarrietSalem) March 22, 2014
14:57
22.3.2014
AFP compares U.S. and EU sanctions:
Europe has ramped up its response to Russia's annexation of Crimea with a new round of sanctions that still fall short of Washington's moves and will have little bite, experts say.
The European Union this week slapped sanctions on 12 new officials linked to Moscow's takeover of the Crimean peninsula, bringing its blacklist to 33. Among them are Russian politicians, including Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, along with other members of President Vladimir Putin's inner circle and Black Sea and Crimea military commanders.
But, unlike the United States, the EU has not yet extended its measures to economic sanctions. According to Brussels, the annexation of Crimea merits only "Stage 2" sanctions, which include visa bans, asset freezes and political wrist-slapping, such as suspending G8 meetings, halting bilateral summits and stopping negotiations on Russia's joining the OECD.
The EU sanctions "are very limited, their impact is more symbolic," said Xavier Follebouckt, a specialist in Russia and international relations at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium.
US President Barack Obama meanwhile ordered a second round of hard sanctions on Thursday against nearly two dozen Putin allies and Bank Rossiya, which sent shares tumbling and ratings agencies Standard and Poor's and Fitch changing Russia's outlook to negative from stable.
The European Union this week slapped sanctions on 12 new officials linked to Moscow's takeover of the Crimean peninsula, bringing its blacklist to 33. Among them are Russian politicians, including Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, along with other members of President Vladimir Putin's inner circle and Black Sea and Crimea military commanders.
But, unlike the United States, the EU has not yet extended its measures to economic sanctions. According to Brussels, the annexation of Crimea merits only "Stage 2" sanctions, which include visa bans, asset freezes and political wrist-slapping, such as suspending G8 meetings, halting bilateral summits and stopping negotiations on Russia's joining the OECD.
The EU sanctions "are very limited, their impact is more symbolic," said Xavier Follebouckt, a specialist in Russia and international relations at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium.
US President Barack Obama meanwhile ordered a second round of hard sanctions on Thursday against nearly two dozen Putin allies and Bank Rossiya, which sent shares tumbling and ratings agencies Standard and Poor's and Fitch changing Russia's outlook to negative from stable.
14:54
22.3.2014
From AP: Obama's Europe Ties Get New Test In Russia Dispute
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama's complex relationship with Europe faces new challenges during a weeklong trip as he tries to persuade allied leaders to hold firm in efforts to punish Russia for its incursion into Ukraine.
The deepening dispute between East and West is expected to dominate his visit to Europe, which begins Monday in the Netherlands. The four-country trip was long-planned, but now provides the U.S. and Europe a well-timed chance to present a united front against Russian President Vladimir Putin.
But behind the scenes, Obama will be gauging how far the still economically shaky European Union is willing to go in punishing Russia, its largest trading partner. He'll also be confronted with other European frustrations with the U.S. that are bubbling just below the surface.
14:52
22.3.2014
From RFE/RL News Desk:
NOVOFEDORIVKA, Crimea; March 22, 2014 -- Pro-Russian protesters have stormed a Ukrainian air force base in western Crimea, news agencies report. Correspondents at the scene said some 200 unarmed demonstrators broke through to the base in the town of Novofedorivka and started smashing windows. Ukrainian military personnel barricaded themselves inside buildings and threw smoke bombs at the intruders from the roof. In Belbek, near Sevastopol, Russian troops have surrounded a Ukrainian airbase and issued an ultimatum to forces inside to surrender. The deputy commander of the base, Oleg Podovalov, said Russian troops "gave us an hour to surrender or they will start storming." Meanwhile, the Russian Navy seized the "Zaporozhye," Ukraine's only submarine. In the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, some 5,000 people attended a pro-Russian rally. Many chanted slogans in favor of a referendum on seceding from Ukraine.
NOVOFEDORIVKA, Crimea; March 22, 2014 -- Pro-Russian protesters have stormed a Ukrainian air force base in western Crimea, news agencies report. Correspondents at the scene said some 200 unarmed demonstrators broke through to the base in the town of Novofedorivka and started smashing windows. Ukrainian military personnel barricaded themselves inside buildings and threw smoke bombs at the intruders from the roof. In Belbek, near Sevastopol, Russian troops have surrounded a Ukrainian airbase and issued an ultimatum to forces inside to surrender. The deputy commander of the base, Oleg Podovalov, said Russian troops "gave us an hour to surrender or they will start storming." Meanwhile, the Russian Navy seized the "Zaporozhye," Ukraine's only submarine. In the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, some 5,000 people attended a pro-Russian rally. Many chanted slogans in favor of a referendum on seceding from Ukraine.
14:45
22.3.2014
FM #Steinmeier met acting Pres. #Turchynov in #Kiev before leaving for #Donetsk in the east of #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/oEqvvM13Yd
— GermanForeignOffice (@GermanyDiplo) March 22, 2014
14:44
22.3.2014
The Telegraph cites an unidentified official in Brussels as saying the South Stream pipeline is "dead." If true, that's a pretty big deal.
From the report:
From the report:
The South Stream pipeline intended to link the EU to Russia through the Black Sea by 2018 is now “dead”, according to sources in Brussels, hitting contractors close to Mr Putin. EU staff are to come up with plans to shield Europe from energy blackmail by Russia within 90 days, finding ways to prevent frontline states being picked off one by one. Ukraine’s premier, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, said in Brussels that the West must stop Russia deploying energy as a “new nuclear weapon".
14:40
22.3.2014
Mourners surround casket of dead protester at Independence Square Kyiv. #Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/2LwiOJCBlq
— Paul Waldie (@pwaldieGLOBE) March 22, 2014
14:40
22.3.2014
Memorial service at Independence Square Kyiv for another dead protester. #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/yUHH4KH06l
— Paul Waldie (@pwaldieGLOBE) March 22, 2014