20:26
28.4.2014
Our news desk has some reaction from Russia to the deployment of U.S. troops in Estonia today:
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has called the increase in activity of U.S. and NATO forces near Russia's borders unprecedented.
He made the statement in a phone conversation April 28 with U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel.
Shoigu also told Hagel Moscow is open to contract with all sides to diffuse tensions over Ukraine.
About 150 U.S. troops arrived in Estonia April 28 to take part in military exercises amid rising tensions with Russia over Ukraine.
The deployment brings to 600 the number of troops sent by Washington to Poland and the Baltic states to allay the concerns of eastern NATO allies over the escalating crisis.
Also on April 28, Britain and France deployed eight fighter jets to reinforce NATO patrols over Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has called the increase in activity of U.S. and NATO forces near Russia's borders unprecedented.
He made the statement in a phone conversation April 28 with U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel.
Shoigu also told Hagel Moscow is open to contract with all sides to diffuse tensions over Ukraine.
About 150 U.S. troops arrived in Estonia April 28 to take part in military exercises amid rising tensions with Russia over Ukraine.
The deployment brings to 600 the number of troops sent by Washington to Poland and the Baltic states to allay the concerns of eastern NATO allies over the escalating crisis.
Also on April 28, Britain and France deployed eight fighter jets to reinforce NATO patrols over Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia.
21:06
28.4.2014
RFE/RL's Carl Schreck and Luke Johnson have been profiling those who have been targeted by the latest round of U.S. sanctions, including Putin's "righthand man" Igor Sechin:
With his stern visage and reputation for secretive machinations, Sechin has been likened to Darth Vader and is believed by many to be Putin's closest confidant. A former deputy prime minister who oversaw Russia's vast energy wealth, he currently serves as president of state-owned oil giant Rosneft and is widely seen as one of the country's most powerful men. In announcing the sanctions, the U.S. Treasury Department cited Sechin's "utter loyalty" to Putin as a "key component to his current standing."
21:14
28.4.2014
Barring any dramatic developments, we are now closing the live blog for today. Before we go, we will leave you with some footage from RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service of the violence today in Donetsk, which broke out after some pro-Russia militants attacked a pro-Ukraine rally in the city (natural sound):
07:39
29.4.2014
07:40
29.4.2014
Addressing "federalization" may not change anything, it seems.
07:43
29.4.2014
Is Russia actually pulling back its troops from the border with Ukraine?
07:46
29.4.2014
The EU's addition to Russian sanctions released:
07:47
29.4.2014
Hennadiy Kernes was shot in the back yesterday, now in Israel:
07:54
29.4.2014
From our news desk:
Britain is hosting talks aimed at recovering Ukrainian assets thought to have been looted under regime of Ukraine’s deposed President Viktor Yanukovych.
The two-day talks, which began on April 29, are co-chaired by U.K. Home Secretary Theresa May and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.
Also attending is Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, prosecutors, and representatives from financial centers and international organizations.
The talks were organized by the Ukraine Forum on Asset Recovery -- an international group led by Britain and the United States that says that "there is no impunity for those who carry out such illegal actions."
Holder pledged that the United States would lead the effort, saying the group members are determined "to support Ukrainian leaders and citizens as they combat corruption and strive to ensure the stability, the independence, and the national sovereignty of a strong and free Ukraine." (Reuters/AFP)
The two-day talks, which began on April 29, are co-chaired by U.K. Home Secretary Theresa May and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.
Also attending is Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, prosecutors, and representatives from financial centers and international organizations.
The talks were organized by the Ukraine Forum on Asset Recovery -- an international group led by Britain and the United States that says that "there is no impunity for those who carry out such illegal actions."
Holder pledged that the United States would lead the effort, saying the group members are determined "to support Ukrainian leaders and citizens as they combat corruption and strive to ensure the stability, the independence, and the national sovereignty of a strong and free Ukraine." (Reuters/AFP)
08:03
29.4.2014
From our news desk:
The European Union has released the names of 15 new targets of sanctions because of their roles in the Ukraine crisis.
The list released on April 29 includes General Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff, and Lieutenant General Igor Sergun, identified as head of the Russian military intelligence agency (GRU).
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak and pro-Russian separatist leaders in Crimea and the eastern Ukrainian cities of Luhansk and Donetsk are also on the list.
The list released on April 29 includes General Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff, and Lieutenant General Igor Sergun, identified as head of the Russian military intelligence agency (GRU).
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak and pro-Russian separatist leaders in Crimea and the eastern Ukrainian cities of Luhansk and Donetsk are also on the list.