15:14
30.3.2014
15:19
30.3.2014
A report by "The New York Times" from the Ukrainian-Crimean border town of Belgorod:
But in and around Belgorod, which sits a scant 40 miles from Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city and a likely target in case of an invasion, any increased military presence is largely kept out of the public eye. In a region that appears far from being on the brink of war, life continues as normal here, and many residents say they do not want war, dismissing reports of a buildup as rumors set to discredit Russia.
... "Show me the tanks first, show me anything here that proves all this, and then we can talk about an invasion,” said Pyotr Kudryavtsev, a retiree walking away from the tracks near the Vesyolaya Lopan station south of Belgorod, where scores of military vehicles were filmed being unloaded on March 12. Mr. Kudryavtsev, like other locals interviewed, denied this, saying that the heavy tracks in the mud close to the rails belonged to construction vehicles.
15:23
30.3.2014
Germany's "Der Spiegel" says Berlin is considering offering military support to some Eastern European members of NATO in response to Russia's annexation of Crimea. "Der Spiegel" said the Defense Ministry is ready to make available up to six aircraft for a strengthened air-patrolling mission in parts of Eastern Europe.
15:33
30.3.2014
15:48
30.3.2014
Interfax quotes the Ukrainian Defense Ministry as saying the U.S. government has supplied the Ukrainian armed forces with about 330,000 inidividual field rations known as MREs (Meals, Ready to Eat). The ministry said a truck convoy delivered the last shipment of the aid to Ukraine on Saturday.
15:50
30.3.2014
17:03
30.3.2014
Reuters reports that the top U.S. general in Europe, U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove, has cut short a Washington visit to return to Europe amid "uncertainty," according to the Pentagon, which calls it a "prudent" move given the "lack of transparency" over Russian troop movements.
17:06
30.3.2014
AFP is alone at this point in declaring the start of Kerry-Lavrov talks on Ukraine.
17:08
30.3.2014
Now Russian state broadcaster RT is also saying the talks have begun in Paris.
17:19
30.3.2014
John Kerry and Sergei Lavrov have begun their meeting on the Ukraine situation at the residence of the Russian ambassador to Paris. Reports say a press conference is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. UTC, or about one hour and 40 minutes from now.