09:22
26.4.2014
Meanwhile, The New York Times reports that European banks and businesses are seeking to minimize sanctions against Russia:
BERLIN — With the showdown over Ukraine escalating and President Obama warning Moscow of a tough new round of sanctions, Russia and its allies in the European private sector are conducting a separate campaign to ensure that they can maintain their deep and longstanding economic ties even if the Kremlin orders further military action.
European banks and businesses are far more exposed to the Russian economy than are their American counterparts. Trade between the European Union and Russia amounted to almost $370 billion in 2012, while United States trade with Russia was about $26 billion that year.
As a result, they have lobbied energetically to head off or at least dilute any sanctions, making it hard for American and European political leaders to come up with a package of measures with enough bite to influence Moscow’s behavior in Ukraine.
European banks and businesses are far more exposed to the Russian economy than are their American counterparts. Trade between the European Union and Russia amounted to almost $370 billion in 2012, while United States trade with Russia was about $26 billion that year.
As a result, they have lobbied energetically to head off or at least dilute any sanctions, making it hard for American and European political leaders to come up with a package of measures with enough bite to influence Moscow’s behavior in Ukraine.
09:25
26.4.2014
And this from The Kyiv Post on the detained OSCE observers (via Interfax-Ukraine):
Activists of the self-defense forces of Donbas who are against the current Ukrainian government and support federalization in the country, say they do not rule out that the officers of the General Staff of Ukraine previously seized in Sloviansk may be exchanged for the activists detained by the Kyiv authorities.
09:27
26.4.2014
09:28
26.4.2014
Al Jazeera has a report out on the cost of the Ukraine incursion for Russia's economy:
Russia provides one-third of Europe's energy needs, yet after its foray into Crimea and increasing activity in eastern Ukraine, its economy has seen the most difficult conditions since the 2008 financial crisis.
It has seen capital flight of $63bn in the first three months of this year as investors dump the ruble. And that haemorrhaging of the economy is predicted to continue; the Russian finance minister said this week that the economy may see zero growth this year because of the unrest in Ukraine.
It has seen capital flight of $63bn in the first three months of this year as investors dump the ruble. And that haemorrhaging of the economy is predicted to continue; the Russian finance minister said this week that the economy may see zero growth this year because of the unrest in Ukraine.
Check out the whole report here (with a 25-minute video)
09:30
26.4.2014
And Russia still deciding whether or not it will recognize Ukraine's May 25 presidential election. This, via Reuters:
Russia is reserving judgment on whether to recognize Ukraine's presidential election on May 25, Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, told the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper in an interview published on Saturday.
"We are watching how they take place," he said. "If tanks will be shooting, then of course (recognition) is absurd. But for now we aren't making categorical declarations and conclusions in advance."
Churkin also said it was possible the elections may not happen.
"We are watching how they take place," he said. "If tanks will be shooting, then of course (recognition) is absurd. But for now we aren't making categorical declarations and conclusions in advance."
Churkin also said it was possible the elections may not happen.
09:39
26.4.2014
09:41
26.4.2014
Life News shows documents of detained OSCE observers:
And obviously @lifenews_ru showcases the snatched documents http://t.co/62UMomh0OI pic.twitter.com/STCUK6aSI7
— Olaf Koens (@obk) April 26, 2014
09:43
26.4.2014
Looks like pretty sparse turnout so far at a separatist demonstration in Kharkiv. Pavel Sheramet tweets a photo:
Митинг сепаратистов в Харькове, полдень. Я себя под Лениным чищу pic.twitter.com/OFeiSSVt6S
— Павел Шеремет (@pavelsheremet) April 26, 2014
09:46
26.4.2014
MIkhail Khodorkovsky rides the bus in Kharkiv. Pavel Sheramet tweets: "Khodorkovsky masters fashionable gadgets..."
Ходорковский освоил модный гаджет и фотографировал Харьков из окна автобуса) pic.twitter.com/x6H0Ta2JWk
— Павел Шеремет (@pavelsheremet) April 26, 2014
09:47
26.4.2014
#Russia ranks 131 of 140 countries in Peace. This was actually before the invasion of #Crimea: http://t.co/GxcXsa71LD pic.twitter.com/Ni21xVt71O
— English EuroMaidan (@EuroMaidanEN) April 26, 2014