19:01
7.4.2014
Here are highlights of acting Ukraine President Turchynov's televised speech to the country today, in which he described the eastern Ukraine occupations and unrests as "the second wave in Russia's special operation against Ukraine."
18:21
7.4.2014
Reuters reports:
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Kerry "called on Russia to publicly disavow the activities of separatists, saboteurs, and provocateurs" in Ukraine.
She said the two discussed convening direct talks in the next 10 days between Ukraine, Russia, the United States and the European Union to defuse tensions.
She said the two discussed convening direct talks in the next 10 days between Ukraine, Russia, the United States and the European Union to defuse tensions.
18:20
7.4.2014
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, in a telephone conversation, has reportedly told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that events in eastern Ukraine did not appear to be "spontaneous." The State Department said Kerry made clear any further Russian efforts to destabilize Ukraine will incur further costs for Russia.
18:02
7.4.2014
Reuters quotes a spokeswoman for the Luhansk regional Prosecutor-General's Office, Maryna Bragina, as saying "talks will be held in the near future" with the pro-Russian protesters who have occupied the city administration building and Ukrainian Security Service headquarters there and raided a cache of weapons. "We are putting together a working group that will conduct the talks."
17:56
7.4.2014
Yuliya Tymoshenko, who is running in the May presidential election, had this to say today in Donetsk:
"These people can be divided into two categories: the first are representatives and members of the Russian Federation's special forces; the second are people hired by them, and they behave in quite an aggressive way."
"There are about 200 people in the regional administration building [in Donetsk]. There are a few people among them who are armed and who use weapons. It was very important for me to see that this aggression currently instigated here has nothing to do with the life, wishes, and views prevalent in Donetsk."
"I am convinced today, after talking to people, after talking to the people of Donetsk, that nobody wants war. Nobody wants instability. Everybody wants peace, calm, economic stability, adequate earnings, everybody wants new jobs, and nobody wants a war that would last for many years. Everybody comprehends a monstrous face of war."
"There are about 200 people in the regional administration building [in Donetsk]. There are a few people among them who are armed and who use weapons. It was very important for me to see that this aggression currently instigated here has nothing to do with the life, wishes, and views prevalent in Donetsk."
"I am convinced today, after talking to people, after talking to the people of Donetsk, that nobody wants war. Nobody wants instability. Everybody wants peace, calm, economic stability, adequate earnings, everybody wants new jobs, and nobody wants a war that would last for many years. Everybody comprehends a monstrous face of war."
17:50
7.4.2014
Our Washington correspondent Carl Schreck quotes the White House suggesting there is "strong evidence" that some of the pro-Moscow protesters "were paid and not local residents."
White House spokesman Jay Carney described the latest developments as the result of "increasing Russian pressure on Ukraine."
White House spokesman Jay Carney described the latest developments as the result of "increasing Russian pressure on Ukraine."
17:30
7.4.2014
ethnic Ukrainians account for 56.9% in Donetsk region, 70.7% in Kharkiv region & 58 % in the Luhansk region, http://t.co/sZtlLS2SnR
— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) April 7, 2014
17:14
7.4.2014
In an interview with RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, one of the authors of Ukraine's 1996 constitution, law professor Viktor Musiyaka, predicts Ukraine "will never be a federation" and talks about separatism in the eastern part of the country (in Ukrainian):
"#Украина никогда не будет федерацией". Киевский юрист Виктор Мусияка объясняет, почему http://t.co/AXgVpYyaNw
— Радио Свобода (@SvobodaRadio) April 7, 2014
17:08
7.4.2014
Tensions in Ukraine highest since Crimea invasion, @maxseddon reports http://t.co/u8ElLYRfjZ
— Ben Smith (@BuzzFeedBen) April 7, 2014
16:11
7.4.2014
The Russian Foreign Ministry has accused Kyiv of "finger-pointing at Russia" and urged it to heed "legitimate demands."
"If the irresponsible attitude toward the fate of the country, the fate of their own people, on behalf of the political forces that call themselves the Ukrainian government were to continue, Ukraine would inevitably face ever new difficulties and crises," ministry spokesman Aleksandr Lukashevich said today. "Enough finger-pointing at Russia -- blaming it for all the troubles of today's Ukraine. The Ukrainian people need to hear from Kyiv clear answers to all questions. It is time to listen to these legitimate demands."
"If the irresponsible attitude toward the fate of the country, the fate of their own people, on behalf of the political forces that call themselves the Ukrainian government were to continue, Ukraine would inevitably face ever new difficulties and crises," ministry spokesman Aleksandr Lukashevich said today. "Enough finger-pointing at Russia -- blaming it for all the troubles of today's Ukraine. The Ukrainian people need to hear from Kyiv clear answers to all questions. It is time to listen to these legitimate demands."