11:11
29.3.2014
Interfax quotes Lavrov as saying that West's attempts to get Russia to reverse position on Crimea are "hopeless."
11:10
29.3.2014
Reuters reporting that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State have spoken by phone about Ukraine crisis.
11:08
29.3.2014
When Oleksandr met Alyaksandr.
Ukraine's interim president meets Belarusian strongman. This via AFP:
Ukraine's interim president meets Belarusian strongman. This via AFP:
Belarus strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko hosted Ukraine's interim president Saturday for surprise talks that came after his ex-Soviet country voted against a UN General Assembly resolution denouncing Russia's annexation of Crimea.
The Belarus president's office said the meeting with Oleksandr Turchynov was held in Lukashenko's residence in the village of Lyaskovichi near the border with Ukraine.
The brief statement provided no other details and Turchynov's official website made no mention of the talks.
Belarus was one of just 11 countries along with Russia to vote against a non-binding UN General Assembly resolution supporting Ukraine's territorial integrity and condemning Russia's annexation of its Crimea peninsula earlier this month.
Lukashenko told Kiev television on Friday that he had already spoken by telephone to Ukrainian boxer turned opposition leader Vitali Klitschko and was hoping to build friendly future relations with Ukraine.
"One has to speak to the devil if necessary to avert things from turning worse," Lukashenko said Friday.
Belarus relies heavily on Russian oil and natural gas shipments and is part of a Kremlin-led three-state customs union that also includes Kazakhstan.
But Lukashenko -- once referred to by Washington as the last dictator of Europe -- has uneasy relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and has been known to make unpredictable political decisions since rising to power in 1994.
The Belarus president's office said the meeting with Oleksandr Turchynov was held in Lukashenko's residence in the village of Lyaskovichi near the border with Ukraine.
The brief statement provided no other details and Turchynov's official website made no mention of the talks.
Belarus was one of just 11 countries along with Russia to vote against a non-binding UN General Assembly resolution supporting Ukraine's territorial integrity and condemning Russia's annexation of its Crimea peninsula earlier this month.
Lukashenko told Kiev television on Friday that he had already spoken by telephone to Ukrainian boxer turned opposition leader Vitali Klitschko and was hoping to build friendly future relations with Ukraine.
"One has to speak to the devil if necessary to avert things from turning worse," Lukashenko said Friday.
Belarus relies heavily on Russian oil and natural gas shipments and is part of a Kremlin-led three-state customs union that also includes Kazakhstan.
But Lukashenko -- once referred to by Washington as the last dictator of Europe -- has uneasy relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and has been known to make unpredictable political decisions since rising to power in 1994.
11:08
29.3.2014
Short piece from our news desk on Klitschko.
Ukrainian politician Vitali Klitschko says he has decided against contesting snap presidential elections in May. Addressing a congress of his UDAR (Punch) party on Saturday, the boxer-turned-politician said he would instead back the candidacy of billionaire businessman Petro Poroshenko.
Klitschko said Poroshenko “enjoys the strongest public support.” Poroshenko announced late Friday that he would stand in the presidential race.
Parliament called the early election -- scheduled for May 25 -- after voting to oust President Viktor Yanukovych in February, following three months of antigovernment protests.
Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who was Yanukovych's chief political rival, has also announced she plans to run again for president.
Candidates have until April 4 to register.
Klitschko said Poroshenko “enjoys the strongest public support.” Poroshenko announced late Friday that he would stand in the presidential race.
Parliament called the early election -- scheduled for May 25 -- after voting to oust President Viktor Yanukovych in February, following three months of antigovernment protests.
Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who was Yanukovych's chief political rival, has also announced she plans to run again for president.
Candidates have until April 4 to register.
11:06
29.3.2014
Meanwhile, Crimean Tatars consider pushing for self-rule. This, via AFP:
Crimea's Tatars will on Saturday hold a vote on whether to push for self-rule in their historic homeland following its annexation by Russia.
Ethnic Tatars from all over Crimea convened in the town of Bakhchisaray for an emergency Qurultai, or congress, to decide on the fate of the Muslim community of about 300,000 people on the Black Sea peninsula.
"There comes a moment in the life of every people when a choice must be made that will determine its future," said Tatar leader Refat Chubarov.
He urged the audience packed into a community centre to vote for a draft resolution calling for the "launch of political and legal procedures (for the) national and territorial autonomy of the Crimean Tatar people on their historical territory, Crimea."
The document notes the Crimean Tatars' concern over the recent upheaval on the peninsula, which saw pro-Russian militia and Russian troops oust Ukrainian soldiers after a Moscow-backed referendum saw the peninsula split from Ukraine.
Among more than 200 people attending the congress where Russian officials and religious leaders, including the Grand Mufti Ravil Gainutdin, also an ethnic Tatar.
Ethnic Tatars from all over Crimea convened in the town of Bakhchisaray for an emergency Qurultai, or congress, to decide on the fate of the Muslim community of about 300,000 people on the Black Sea peninsula.
"There comes a moment in the life of every people when a choice must be made that will determine its future," said Tatar leader Refat Chubarov.
He urged the audience packed into a community centre to vote for a draft resolution calling for the "launch of political and legal procedures (for the) national and territorial autonomy of the Crimean Tatar people on their historical territory, Crimea."
The document notes the Crimean Tatars' concern over the recent upheaval on the peninsula, which saw pro-Russian militia and Russian troops oust Ukrainian soldiers after a Moscow-backed referendum saw the peninsula split from Ukraine.
Among more than 200 people attending the congress where Russian officials and religious leaders, including the Grand Mufti Ravil Gainutdin, also an ethnic Tatar.
10:59
29.3.2014
Klitschko quitting the race, leaving post-revolutionary Ukraine with the Oligarch vs Oligarch choice is just tragic pic.twitter.com/mVRMNxIObY
— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) March 29, 2014
10:57
29.3.2014
Lavrov claiming the U.S. and EU no longer opposes Russia's proposal to "federalize" Ukraine. Would like to hear some Western officials weigh in on this.
Via Interfax:
Via Interfax:
MOSCOW. March 29 (Interfax) - The West is no longer dismissing Russia's arguments that Ukraine should become a federation through a constitutional reform, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
"I can say that 'federation' is no longer a taboo word in our negotiations. I am sure we should insist on this not just because we want this but because this is a demand by the southern and eastern
regions [of Ukraine]," Lavrov said in an interview shown in an analytical program hosted by Sergei Brilyov on Rossiya-1 TV channel on Saturday
"I can say that 'federation' is no longer a taboo word in our negotiations. I am sure we should insist on this not just because we want this but because this is a demand by the southern and eastern
regions [of Ukraine]," Lavrov said in an interview shown in an analytical program hosted by Sergei Brilyov on Rossiya-1 TV channel on Saturday
10:54
29.3.2014
Majority of Americans support sanctions against Russia, but oppose military aid to Ukraine. Via Reuters:
A CBS News poll taken in recent days said 56 percent of Americans approve of sanctions enacted thus far by the United States and European nations, but 65 percent do not think the U.S. should provide military aid and weapons to Ukraine.
In addition, 57 percent said the United States does not have a responsibility to do something about Ukraine.
Obama himself said he could understand why people "might decide to look the other way," but that the "international order" must be protected.
In addition, 57 percent said the United States does not have a responsibility to do something about Ukraine.
Obama himself said he could understand why people "might decide to look the other way," but that the "international order" must be protected.
10:49
29.3.2014
So Klitchko dodges a fight with Yulia. For now, I guess. Good boxing is about strategy.
— Leonid Ragozin (@leonidragozin) March 29, 2014
10:48
29.3.2014
Klitschko says that "the election of the President must unite the society and not become another war of all... http://t.co/PAmPHN5eKD
— MaidanOnline (@MaidanOnline) March 29, 2014