14:23
24.4.2014
15:36
24.4.2014
BREAKING: Ukraine's acting President Oleksandr Turchynov has demanded that Russia stop meddling in Ukraine's affairs and halt its "blackmail."
In a televised statement, the president demanded that Moscow pull back its troops from the Ukrainian border. He accused Russia of "coordinating and openly supporting terrorist killers" in eastern Ukraine, and said Ukraine will not "back down from the terrorist threat."
In a televised statement, the president demanded that Moscow pull back its troops from the Ukrainian border. He accused Russia of "coordinating and openly supporting terrorist killers" in eastern Ukraine, and said Ukraine will not "back down from the terrorist threat."
16:32
24.4.2014
From our news desk:
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says it will make a final decision on a huge aid package for Ukraine next week.
The IMF says the Ukrainian government has met its conditions. It said the IMF board will meet April 30 to review the program and issue a decision.
The IMF has tentatively agreed to lend Kyiv $14 to $18 billion over two years to help Ukraine recover after months of political and economic turmoil. The final amount has not been announced.
The IMF loan is part of a larger $27 billion international aid package to Ukraine announced last month, which involved contributions from the United States, Western Europe and other donors.
The IMF decision to move ahead on the rescue plan comes despite the escalating tensions between Ukraine and Russia.
The IMF says the Ukrainian government has met its conditions. It said the IMF board will meet April 30 to review the program and issue a decision.
The IMF has tentatively agreed to lend Kyiv $14 to $18 billion over two years to help Ukraine recover after months of political and economic turmoil. The final amount has not been announced.
The IMF loan is part of a larger $27 billion international aid package to Ukraine announced last month, which involved contributions from the United States, Western Europe and other donors.
The IMF decision to move ahead on the rescue plan comes despite the escalating tensions between Ukraine and Russia.
16:37
24.4.2014
Good video report from VOA about normal life going in Donetsk, although fear remains.
16:51
24.4.2014
Simon Ostrovsky, the VICE News correspondent in Ukraine who was kidnapped in Slovyansk, has been freed.
Read about what happened to him here.
Read about what happened to him here.
16:54
24.4.2014
16:55
24.4.2014
17:14
24.4.2014
More on Ostrovsky from our news desk:
Simon Ostrovsky, an American journalist who had been held captive since April 21 by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, has been freed.
His employer, the U.S. outlet Vice News, said in a statement April 24 that Ostrovsky is in "good health."
It was not immediately clear why Ostrovsky had been kidnapped and then released days later.
In an interview with the AFP news agency, Simon Ostrovsky, said he was in fine condition, although he had been beaten and was initially kept tied up and blindfolded.
He said that after a day and a half, his captors removed the blindfold, untied his hands, and began to treat him "normally."
Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, the self-declared separatist "mayor" of the city of Slovyansk, told Gazeta.ru in an interview published April 23 that Ostrovsky, a veteran reporter, was being held because pro-Russian militias are being targeted by Ukrainian forces loyal to the Kyiv government.
Several other reporters have been detained by pro-Russian forces in Slovyansk.
His employer, the U.S. outlet Vice News, said in a statement April 24 that Ostrovsky is in "good health."
It was not immediately clear why Ostrovsky had been kidnapped and then released days later.
In an interview with the AFP news agency, Simon Ostrovsky, said he was in fine condition, although he had been beaten and was initially kept tied up and blindfolded.
He said that after a day and a half, his captors removed the blindfold, untied his hands, and began to treat him "normally."
Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, the self-declared separatist "mayor" of the city of Slovyansk, told Gazeta.ru in an interview published April 23 that Ostrovsky, a veteran reporter, was being held because pro-Russian militias are being targeted by Ukrainian forces loyal to the Kyiv government.
Several other reporters have been detained by pro-Russian forces in Slovyansk.
17:42
24.4.2014
The secretary-general of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation (OSCE) in Europe has condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin for having "double standards."