15:43
30.4.2014
Fighting for hearts and minds in eastern Ukraine:
16:36
30.4.2014
From our news desk:
A leader of the self-declared "Donetsk People's Republic" says the eastern Ukrainian region will not take part in the presidential election scheduled next month.
Denis Pushilin was speaking on April 30 on a visit to Moscow on an apparent mission to seek support.
Donetsk is one of a string of eastern Ukrainian cities where pro-Russian separatists have seized government buildings.
Pushilin confirmed the Donetsk Republic plans to hold a referendum on possible secession from Ukraine on May 11, and said it will hold its own leadership vote after that.
Ukraine's presidential election is scheduled to take place on May 25.
Pushilin also told reporters the separatists had enough people and weapons to defend their interests.
He said that Russian officers were operating in the east of Ukraine but did not provide details. (AFP/ITAR-TASS)
Denis Pushilin was speaking on April 30 on a visit to Moscow on an apparent mission to seek support.
Donetsk is one of a string of eastern Ukrainian cities where pro-Russian separatists have seized government buildings.
Pushilin confirmed the Donetsk Republic plans to hold a referendum on possible secession from Ukraine on May 11, and said it will hold its own leadership vote after that.
Ukraine's presidential election is scheduled to take place on May 25.
Pushilin also told reporters the separatists had enough people and weapons to defend their interests.
He said that Russian officers were operating in the east of Ukraine but did not provide details. (AFP/ITAR-TASS)
16:38
30.4.2014
Washington correspondent Luke Johnson reports:
U.S. lawmakers have introduced legislation that would impose sanctions on top Russian companies and banks in response to the Kremlin's actions in Ukraine.
The bill, introduced by Republican senators on April 30, would impose sanctions on companies including state-owned energy giants Gazprom and Rosneft, as well as state arms manufacturer Rosoboroneksport. It also calls for sanctions on four leading Russian lenders: Sberbank, VTB, VEB, and Gazprombank.
The legislation, which was introduced by Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member Bob Corker (Republican-Tennessee) would also require the White House to boost "substantially" U.S. and NATO support for Poland and the Baltic countries.
It also authorizes the U.S. president to provide $100 million of direct military assistance to Ukraine, including antitank and antiaircraft weapons and small arms.
The bill, introduced by Republican senators on April 30, would impose sanctions on companies including state-owned energy giants Gazprom and Rosneft, as well as state arms manufacturer Rosoboroneksport. It also calls for sanctions on four leading Russian lenders: Sberbank, VTB, VEB, and Gazprombank.
The legislation, which was introduced by Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member Bob Corker (Republican-Tennessee) would also require the White House to boost "substantially" U.S. and NATO support for Poland and the Baltic countries.
It also authorizes the U.S. president to provide $100 million of direct military assistance to Ukraine, including antitank and antiaircraft weapons and small arms.
16:47
30.4.2014
16:49
30.4.2014
17:20
30.4.2014
From Washington correspondent Golnaz Esfandiari:
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden says Russia should respect the international order, otherwise it could face "growing costs" and "growing isolation".
Biden made the remarks in a speech at the Atlantic Council in Washington on April 30.
He said Russia's integration into the international order remains in everyone's interests.
But Biden said if Russia wanted to benefit from the international order it had to respect that order and abide by the rules.
The United States has repeatedly called on Russia to change course in Ukraine and de-escalate the tensions.
In his speech, Biden also said that U.S. President Barack Obama will visit Poland in June, adding the stop to a European trip that will also take him to a G7 summit in Brussels and to France for the 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.
Biden made the remarks in a speech at the Atlantic Council in Washington on April 30.
He said Russia's integration into the international order remains in everyone's interests.
But Biden said if Russia wanted to benefit from the international order it had to respect that order and abide by the rules.
The United States has repeatedly called on Russia to change course in Ukraine and de-escalate the tensions.
In his speech, Biden also said that U.S. President Barack Obama will visit Poland in June, adding the stop to a European trip that will also take him to a G7 summit in Brussels and to France for the 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.
18:36
30.4.2014
19:15
30.4.2014
From our news desk:
Four Danish fighter jets have arrived in Estonia, the first time NATO warplanes will be stationed in the Baltic nation.
The deployment comes at a time when NATO is boosting its presence in eastern members of the alliance to allay concerns over what Western officials describe as Russia's interference in Ukraine.
At a ceremony, Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Roivas praised NATO's decision to deploy planes to the country, saying it will boost regional security.
Until now, NATO's sole Baltic air base was in Siauliai, in northern Lithuania, from where alliance planes have carried out Baltic air patrols since 2004.
On April 28, some 150 U.S. troops also arrived in Estonia, part of a 600-strong force that Washington sent to Poland and the Baltics. (AFP/AP)
The deployment comes at a time when NATO is boosting its presence in eastern members of the alliance to allay concerns over what Western officials describe as Russia's interference in Ukraine.
At a ceremony, Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Roivas praised NATO's decision to deploy planes to the country, saying it will boost regional security.
Until now, NATO's sole Baltic air base was in Siauliai, in northern Lithuania, from where alliance planes have carried out Baltic air patrols since 2004.
On April 28, some 150 U.S. troops also arrived in Estonia, part of a 600-strong force that Washington sent to Poland and the Baltics. (AFP/AP)
20:16
30.4.2014
Barring any late breaking news, that ends our blogging for April 30. You can continue to follow our Ukraine coverage here.
08:17
1.5.2014
Ukrainian authorities reportedly detained Russia's military attache to Kyiv on suspicion of spying and ordered the diplomat to leave the country.
Interfax-Ukraine, citing the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, said the unnamed diplomat was detained on April 30 while undertaking "intelligence activities."
"The military-naval attache of the embassy of the Russian Federation in Ukraine is declared persona non grata in connection with his actions, which are not in accordance with his diplomatic status," the agency quoted the ministry as saying.
Interfax-Ukraine, citing the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, said the unnamed diplomat was detained on April 30 while undertaking "intelligence activities."
"The military-naval attache of the embassy of the Russian Federation in Ukraine is declared persona non grata in connection with his actions, which are not in accordance with his diplomatic status," the agency quoted the ministry as saying.