14:27
3.5.2014
14:34
3.5.2014
BREAKING: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says he spoke today about the crisis in Ukraine with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, and told him the key is for Russia to withdraw its support for eastern separatists. He said the release of the OSCE observers was a welcome "step" but that more is needed to de-escalate the situation.
14:38
3.5.2014
More on Kerry's comments from our news desk:
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has welcomed the release of seven OSCE observers who were being held by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, but said Moscow needs to be more to de-escalate the crisis.
Kerry, who is traveling in Africa, said he had spoken on May 3 with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. Kerry said he told Lavrov the key is for Russia to withdraw its support for pro-Russian separatists who have seized government buildings across eastern Ukraine.
Kerry said he and Lavrov discussed the violence in the southern port city of Odesa, where at least 42 people died on May 2, and said everything possible must be done to end it.
He said they will both be in contact with Switzerland's president about a possible larger role for the OSCE in facilitating a de-escalation of the situation.
Kerry, who is traveling in Africa, said he had spoken on May 3 with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. Kerry said he told Lavrov the key is for Russia to withdraw its support for pro-Russian separatists who have seized government buildings across eastern Ukraine.
Kerry said he and Lavrov discussed the violence in the southern port city of Odesa, where at least 42 people died on May 2, and said everything possible must be done to end it.
He said they will both be in contact with Switzerland's president about a possible larger role for the OSCE in facilitating a de-escalation of the situation.
16:02
3.5.2014
For his part, Lavrov told Kerry that Washington should use its influence to persuade the Kyiv "regime" to stop its military offensive against the rebels.
He called for an increased role for OSCE mediators in an effort to implement the Geneva agreement and to foster a national dialogue, primarily on constitutional reform.
Russia's Foreign Ministry said on May 3 that Lavrov and Swiss President Didier Burkhalter had "confirmed the need for the complete fulfillment" of the Geneva accord.
He called for an increased role for OSCE mediators in an effort to implement the Geneva agreement and to foster a national dialogue, primarily on constitutional reform.
Russia's Foreign Ministry said on May 3 that Lavrov and Swiss President Didier Burkhalter had "confirmed the need for the complete fulfillment" of the Geneva accord.
16:41
3.5.2014
More details are emerging about what happened in Odesa yesterday. In this Kyiv Post piece, "eyewitnesses to the carnage...say that many of the pro-Russian separatists were armed with automatic rifles and pistols and started shooting at an unarmed, pro-Ukraine rally that preceded a football game."
Another interesting nugget:
Another interesting nugget:
How the fire started is under investigation as well as who instigated the violence. Authorities reported that 15 of the dead were Russian citizens and another five killed were from Moldova's Kremlin-backed breakaway region of Transnistria.
16:44
3.5.2014
17:56
3.5.2014
18:52
3.5.2014
19:01
3.5.2014
Video showing people (it is unclear who) trying to save people in the burning trade union building in Odesa.