13:23
15.4.2014
Here's a bit more info from our news desk on the allegations that a Russian bank has been funneling money to separatists:
Ukraine's State Security Service (SBU) says it has opened a criminal case against officials at an unnamed Russian bank for "providing financing to terrorists."
The SBU said the bank transferred the equivalent of $3.75 million between March and April for the financing of militant groups in eastern Ukraine.
It said the bank transferred between $200 and $500 per day to individual militants, including militants involved in the takeover of SBU offices in the eastern city of Luhansk.
Meanwhile, Russia's Defense Ministry said it has suspended the handover of weapons and military equipment from Crimea, which it annexed last month, to Ukraine.
Russia's Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said on April 15 the decision was taken to prevent the weapons being used against civilians in Ukraine's east and southeast.
The SBU said the bank transferred the equivalent of $3.75 million between March and April for the financing of militant groups in eastern Ukraine.
It said the bank transferred between $200 and $500 per day to individual militants, including militants involved in the takeover of SBU offices in the eastern city of Luhansk.
Meanwhile, Russia's Defense Ministry said it has suspended the handover of weapons and military equipment from Crimea, which it annexed last month, to Ukraine.
Russia's Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said on April 15 the decision was taken to prevent the weapons being used against civilians in Ukraine's east and southeast.
13:20
15.4.2014
Russian Defense Ministry: Transfer of arms, military equipment to #Ukraine from #Crimea suspended http://t.co/FNNvb7R7fS
— KyivPost (@KyivPost) April 15, 2014
13:20
15.4.2014
Ukrainian fighter jet in sky over #Kramatorsk http://t.co/1SVWGsdxkv
— Myroslava Petsa (@myroslavapetsa) April 15, 2014
13:10
15.4.2014
Another update from our news desk:
European Union defense ministers are meeting in Luxembourg to discuss the Ukraine crisis.
Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen is to brief the EU ministers on April 15 on what NATO is doing to bolster member states in Eastern Europe, where the Ukraine crisis has sparked fears Russia is seeking to reestablish its former sphere of influence.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Rasmussen said NATO plans a three-fold response: "reinforced defense plans, enhanced exercises, and appropriate deployments" to reassure its eastern European members.
He called on Russia to deescalate the crisis, saying "Russia should stop being part of the problem and start being part of the solution."
Many NATO members in Europe also belong to the 28-member European Union, but other members of the trade bloc are not part of military alliance.
Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen is to brief the EU ministers on April 15 on what NATO is doing to bolster member states in Eastern Europe, where the Ukraine crisis has sparked fears Russia is seeking to reestablish its former sphere of influence.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Rasmussen said NATO plans a three-fold response: "reinforced defense plans, enhanced exercises, and appropriate deployments" to reassure its eastern European members.
He called on Russia to deescalate the crisis, saying "Russia should stop being part of the problem and start being part of the solution."
Many NATO members in Europe also belong to the 28-member European Union, but other members of the trade bloc are not part of military alliance.
13:06
15.4.2014
Russian MP Zhirinovsky at the Parliament session today. King of trolling since 1989. pic.twitter.com/Izw5xfgfrv
— Yulia Bragina (@YuliaSkyNews) April 15, 2014
12:44
15.4.2014
SBU says Kyiv office of a Russian bank financing "terrorists" in the east. Says $200-500k transferred to them daily http://t.co/3kVQuzlyL3
— tom balmforth (@BalmforthTom) April 15, 2014
11:30
15.4.2014
11:04
15.4.2014
11:00
15.4.2014
Meanwhile...
The German energy supplier RWE says it has started delivering gas to Ukraine.
The move comes with Ukraine facing a sharp price increase – more than one-third higher – for its gas from Russia, amid high tensions between the neighboring countries.
Moscow has warned that Russian gas supplies to Ukraine could be halted if Kyiv doesn’t pay its bills.
RWE said in a statement that the deliveries, via Poland, began April 15.
It said up to 10 billion cubic meters of gas could be supplied to Ukraine per year under a 2012 agreement.
RWE said the deliveries would be based on "European wholesale price levels,” including delivery costs.
The gas is being transported to Ukraine through what’s known as "reverse flows." Usually, gas from Russia is transported in the other direction to Europe, via pipelines in Ukraine.
RWE said it is the first supplier in Western Europe to deliver gas to Ukraine's state energy company Naftogaz this year.
The move comes with Ukraine facing a sharp price increase – more than one-third higher – for its gas from Russia, amid high tensions between the neighboring countries.
Moscow has warned that Russian gas supplies to Ukraine could be halted if Kyiv doesn’t pay its bills.
RWE said in a statement that the deliveries, via Poland, began April 15.
It said up to 10 billion cubic meters of gas could be supplied to Ukraine per year under a 2012 agreement.
RWE said the deliveries would be based on "European wholesale price levels,” including delivery costs.
The gas is being transported to Ukraine through what’s known as "reverse flows." Usually, gas from Russia is transported in the other direction to Europe, via pipelines in Ukraine.
RWE said it is the first supplier in Western Europe to deliver gas to Ukraine's state energy company Naftogaz this year.
10:59
15.4.2014
This is likely to annoy the Russians.
A German daily has launched a petition to remove a pair of Russian tanks from a World War II memorial in central Berlin in protest against Russia's actions in Ukraine.
The tabloid-style “Bild” newspaper called on its readers on April 15 to sign and mail the letter to the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag.
The petition said, "At a time when Russian tanks are threatening free, democratic Europe, we don't want any Russian tanks at the Brandenburg Gate."
The monument, one of three Soviet war memorials in Berlin, is located near the Bundestag.
It features columns, a giant statue of a Russian soldier, and two T-34 tanks.
The memorial is dedicated to the 80,000 Red Army troops killed during the Battle of Berlin in the spring of 1945.
The tabloid-style “Bild” newspaper called on its readers on April 15 to sign and mail the letter to the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag.
The petition said, "At a time when Russian tanks are threatening free, democratic Europe, we don't want any Russian tanks at the Brandenburg Gate."
The monument, one of three Soviet war memorials in Berlin, is located near the Bundestag.
It features columns, a giant statue of a Russian soldier, and two T-34 tanks.
The memorial is dedicated to the 80,000 Red Army troops killed during the Battle of Berlin in the spring of 1945.