10:32
11.4.2014
RFE/RL's news desk is reporting on Ukraine's latest response to Russia's gas-price hike:
Ukraine says it cannot agree to pay Moscow's new high prices for natural gas and hopes to buy it from Europe.
Ukrainian Energy and Coal Minister Yuriy Prodan told lawmakers on April 11 in Kyiv that Ukraine will not agree with Russia's "political" price for gas and will refer the matter to an arbitration tribunal in Stockholm.
Prodan says it must challenge Russia's decision last week to increase the gas price for Ukraine to $480 for 1,000 cubic meters, a more than 40 percent increase from the price in March.
Kyiv calls the move a politically motivated measure to prevent Ukraine from pursuing closer ties with the EU.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Ukrainian and Western European leaders on April 10 that gas supplies to Europe could be disrupted by Ukraine's failure to pay its $2.2 billion gas debt.
Ukrainian Energy and Coal Minister Yuriy Prodan told lawmakers on April 11 in Kyiv that Ukraine will not agree with Russia's "political" price for gas and will refer the matter to an arbitration tribunal in Stockholm.
Prodan says it must challenge Russia's decision last week to increase the gas price for Ukraine to $480 for 1,000 cubic meters, a more than 40 percent increase from the price in March.
Kyiv calls the move a politically motivated measure to prevent Ukraine from pursuing closer ties with the EU.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Ukrainian and Western European leaders on April 10 that gas supplies to Europe could be disrupted by Ukraine's failure to pay its $2.2 billion gas debt.
10:07
11.4.2014
Meanwhile in Crimea:
Secessionist lawmakers in Crimea have voted to adopt a constitution for what they are calling the “Russian Republic of Crimea.”
All 88 members of the legislature who were present April 11 voted in favor of the document. The Crimean legislature has 100 members.
The newly approved constitution says Crimea is an integral part of Russia.
Russia's annexation of the Ukrainian territory last month has not been internationally recognized.
Western countries have accused Russia of illegally seizing the peninsula.
The constitution says there will be three state languages in Crimea -- Russian, Ukrainian, and Crimean-Tatar.
Crimean lawmakers also set new parliamentary elections for September 14 and urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to formally appoint Sergei Aksyonov as acting leader of Crimea.
Aksyonov, currently the secessionist prime minister, has led efforts to make Crimea part of Russia.
Also in Crimea, local officials say Ukrainian-based banks are expected to stop their operations on the peninsula within two weeks.
Crimean Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Temirgaliev told reporters today that, of all the Ukrainian banks that used to operate there, only four remain.
The majority of Ukrainian banks ended their operations in Crimea after Russia hastily annexed the peninsula following a Moscow-staged referendum on its separation from Ukraine last month.
The remaining four banks announced earlier this month that they will stop operations in Crimea by mid-April and recommended that their clients either withdraw their deposits or use branches of the banks in Ukraine's other regions for their financial needs.
The banks said all debit and credit cards issued by the banks in Crimea will be valid until their expiration dates.
All 88 members of the legislature who were present April 11 voted in favor of the document. The Crimean legislature has 100 members.
The newly approved constitution says Crimea is an integral part of Russia.
Russia's annexation of the Ukrainian territory last month has not been internationally recognized.
Western countries have accused Russia of illegally seizing the peninsula.
The constitution says there will be three state languages in Crimea -- Russian, Ukrainian, and Crimean-Tatar.
Crimean lawmakers also set new parliamentary elections for September 14 and urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to formally appoint Sergei Aksyonov as acting leader of Crimea.
Aksyonov, currently the secessionist prime minister, has led efforts to make Crimea part of Russia.
Also in Crimea, local officials say Ukrainian-based banks are expected to stop their operations on the peninsula within two weeks.
Crimean Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Temirgaliev told reporters today that, of all the Ukrainian banks that used to operate there, only four remain.
The majority of Ukrainian banks ended their operations in Crimea after Russia hastily annexed the peninsula following a Moscow-staged referendum on its separation from Ukraine last month.
The remaining four banks announced earlier this month that they will stop operations in Crimea by mid-April and recommended that their clients either withdraw their deposits or use branches of the banks in Ukraine's other regions for their financial needs.
The banks said all debit and credit cards issued by the banks in Crimea will be valid until their expiration dates.
10:02
11.4.2014
Ukraine to buy its gas from German & French companies - Energy Minister Prodan pic.twitter.com/SHHWMBufie
— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) April 11, 2014
09:58
11.4.2014
Our news desk has an update on comments made by Sergei Lavrov today:
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused Western countries of spreading anti-Russian sentiments and warned such a policy could threaten European stability.
Since Russia's seizure of Ukraine's Crimea in March, Western nations have accused Moscow of destabilizing Europe and have imposed sanctions targeting Russian individuals.
NATO has called on Russia to withdraw troops it has massed near the Ukrainian border.
In his remarks today, Lavrov also said countries should to stop trying to "legitimize" the new Ukrainian government if they really want a de-escalation of the crisis.
Moscow rejects the authorities who took power in Ukraine in February, saying it still recognizes ousted President Viktor Yanukovych as the country's legitimate leader.
Russia is one of the few countries in the world that does not recognize the Ukrainian government of Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and acting President Oleksandr Turchynov.
Lavrov also underlined Moscow's opposition to Ukraine joining NATO, saying it was necessary necessary for Ukraine to have legal guarantees of its "neutrality."
Since Russia's seizure of Ukraine's Crimea in March, Western nations have accused Moscow of destabilizing Europe and have imposed sanctions targeting Russian individuals.
NATO has called on Russia to withdraw troops it has massed near the Ukrainian border.
In his remarks today, Lavrov also said countries should to stop trying to "legitimize" the new Ukrainian government if they really want a de-escalation of the crisis.
Moscow rejects the authorities who took power in Ukraine in February, saying it still recognizes ousted President Viktor Yanukovych as the country's legitimate leader.
Russia is one of the few countries in the world that does not recognize the Ukrainian government of Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and acting President Oleksandr Turchynov.
Lavrov also underlined Moscow's opposition to Ukraine joining NATO, saying it was necessary necessary for Ukraine to have legal guarantees of its "neutrality."
09:37
11.4.2014
Interior Minister Arsen #Avakov hides all public posts on his Facebook. Was he asked by govt to stop blogging or was it his decision?
— Myroslava Petsa (@myroslavapetsa) April 11, 2014
09:22
11.4.2014
NATO releases more photos of apparent Russian military buildup near Ukrainian border: http://t.co/eiCKX2B3Zi
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) April 11, 2014
09:10
11.4.2014
According to RFE/RL's news desk, it seems Viktor Yanukovych could be staying in Russia for a while longer at least:
Russia says it will not extradite ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to Ukraine, where he has been charged with crimes.
Russian Prosecutor-General Yuri Chaika said today in the Crimean capital Simferopol that he will not send Ukraine's "fully fledged, legitimate president" to Kyiv to face charges.
Chaika added that Yanukovych "did not commit any crimes."
The Ukrainian government began seeking Yanukovych's extradition in February, days after he fled the country following protests against him after refusing to sign a pact with the EU and instead favoring closer ties with Russia.
He is wanted on charges in Ukraine that he ordered security forces to fire on unarmed protesters in Kyiv which led to some 100 deaths.
Yanukovych has declared himself to still be the legitimate president and has called the new Ukrainian government illegal.
Russian Prosecutor-General Yuri Chaika said today in the Crimean capital Simferopol that he will not send Ukraine's "fully fledged, legitimate president" to Kyiv to face charges.
Chaika added that Yanukovych "did not commit any crimes."
The Ukrainian government began seeking Yanukovych's extradition in February, days after he fled the country following protests against him after refusing to sign a pact with the EU and instead favoring closer ties with Russia.
He is wanted on charges in Ukraine that he ordered security forces to fire on unarmed protesters in Kyiv which led to some 100 deaths.
Yanukovych has declared himself to still be the legitimate president and has called the new Ukrainian government illegal.
08:58
11.4.2014
Here's an update on what's happening with the dozens of pro-Russia activists who were arrested in Donetsk this week:
A court in Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, has put 62 pro-Russian activists in two-month pretrial detention.
Kharkiv's Kyiv District Court ruled today that three other activists must stay under house arrest.
All the detained activists were charged with organizing mass disorder.
The regional prosecutor's office says those sent into pretrial detention -- except for two leaders of the so-called Eastern Ukrainian Bloc movement, Yehor Lohvinov and Serhiy Yudayev -- can be released on bail of 180,000 hryvnyas ($14,500).
The 65 activists were arrested on April 8, two days after they seized the Kharkiv Regional Administration building, demanding a referendum on Ukraine's federalization.
They clashed with police briefly after security forces had forced them out of the building on August 7.
A court in Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, has put 62 pro-Russian activists in two-month pretrial detention.
Kharkiv's Kyiv District Court ruled today that three other activists must stay under house arrest.
All the detained activists were charged with organizing mass disorder.
The regional prosecutor's office says those sent into pretrial detention -- except for two leaders of the so-called Eastern Ukrainian Bloc movement, Yehor Lohvinov and Serhiy Yudayev -- can be released on bail of 180,000 hryvnyas ($14,500).
The 65 activists were arrested on April 8, two days after they seized the Kharkiv Regional Administration building, demanding a referendum on Ukraine's federalization.
They clashed with police briefly after security forces had forced them out of the building on August 7.
08:55
11.4.2014
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk's visit to Donetsk today is as good as reason as any to remind you to take our quiz on this city.
08:51
11.4.2014
Interesting: Russia will transfer inmates from #Crimea to mainland #Ukraine if they ask for it - Pros General Chaika http://t.co/npgLsOfNae
— Nikolaus von Twickel (@niktwick) April 11, 2014