12:44
2.4.2014
yes, please, God RT @shaunwalker7: OK Yanukovych can you get back in your box now please, this is unbelievably boring.
— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) April 2, 2014
12:45
2.4.2014
OK Yanukovych can you get back in your box now please, this is unbelievably boring.
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) April 2, 2014
12:48
2.4.2014
Associated Press: #Yanukovych says #Crimea a part of #Ukraine http://t.co/g0Ez0imb4t pic.twitter.com/vr0s7yuf3W
— KyivPost (@KyivPost) April 2, 2014
13:05
2.4.2014
Our news desk has issued this item on Yanukovych's Dozhd interview:
Ukraine's ousted President Viktor Yanukovych has called the Russian takeover of Crimea a "tragedy."
Talking to the on-line Dozhd (Rain) TV station today, Yanukovych said he cannot agree with Crimea’s separation from Ukraine and added that he would have done all he could to prevent the peninsula's annexation by Moscow if he had been still in power.
Yanukovych said he hopes to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the conditions under which Crimea could rejoin Ukraine.
He added that presidential elections in Ukraine scheduled for May 25 will be illegal, as the "politically unstable state brings a big number of problems both into interior political situation in Ukraine and beyond."
Yanukovych reiterated his previous stance, saying that a referendum on Ukraine's federalization should be held before the presidential poll.
Talking to the on-line Dozhd (Rain) TV station today, Yanukovych said he cannot agree with Crimea’s separation from Ukraine and added that he would have done all he could to prevent the peninsula's annexation by Moscow if he had been still in power.
Yanukovych said he hopes to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the conditions under which Crimea could rejoin Ukraine.
He added that presidential elections in Ukraine scheduled for May 25 will be illegal, as the "politically unstable state brings a big number of problems both into interior political situation in Ukraine and beyond."
Yanukovych reiterated his previous stance, saying that a referendum on Ukraine's federalization should be held before the presidential poll.
13:19
2.4.2014
Wondering what was in all those documents found at Viktor Yanukovych's palace? Buzzfeed, natch, has a list for that: http://t.co/1YNTrwfelS
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) April 2, 2014
13:23
2.4.2014
In Moscow, NATO 's recent statements seem to have been ruffling some feathers:
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has expressed concern to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry about NATO's decision to suspend cooperation with Moscow.
The Russian Foreign Ministry says the two top diplomats, in a telephone conversation today, also discussed possibilities for international cooperation in the crisis over Ukraine but gave no details.
Yesterday, NATO foreign ministers said they were suspending "all practical civilian and military cooperation" with Russia in protest at its annexation of Ukraine's Crimea.
NATO also said it will intensify cooperation and help improve Ukraine's military capabilities through training and other programs.
The alliance said it would also look at ways to enhance collective defense, including through the possible deployment or reinforcement of military assets in eastern NATO members such as Poland and the Baltic states.
A Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Aleksandr Lukashevich said the NATO statements resemble the "verbal jousting of the Cold War era. "
The Russian Foreign Ministry says the two top diplomats, in a telephone conversation today, also discussed possibilities for international cooperation in the crisis over Ukraine but gave no details.
Yesterday, NATO foreign ministers said they were suspending "all practical civilian and military cooperation" with Russia in protest at its annexation of Ukraine's Crimea.
NATO also said it will intensify cooperation and help improve Ukraine's military capabilities through training and other programs.
The alliance said it would also look at ways to enhance collective defense, including through the possible deployment or reinforcement of military assets in eastern NATO members such as Poland and the Baltic states.
A Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Aleksandr Lukashevich said the NATO statements resemble the "verbal jousting of the Cold War era. "
13:28
2.4.2014
Meanwhile, in Brussels, NATO's secretary-general has had this to say:
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says it would be an "a historic mistake" if Russia intervened further in Ukraine after it annexed Crimea.
Rasmussen also said Russia's military buildup on the Ukrainian border remains a "grave concern."
He was speaking after a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Brussels today.
Rasmussen also said Russia's military buildup on the Ukrainian border remains a "grave concern."
He was speaking after a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Brussels today.
13:44
2.4.2014
The U.S. ambassador to Ukraine has tweeted this on the U.S. aid package for the country:
Statement by the @WhiteHouse Press Secretary on #Ukraine http://t.co/qZ6zkvpC8d
— Geoffrey Pyatt (@GeoffPyatt) April 2, 2014
14:35
2.4.2014
Meanwhile. @TelegraphNews: Vladimir Putin finalises divorce http://t.co/6t8lhPMiBi”
— Nahlah Ayed (@NahlahAyed) April 2, 2014
15:05
2.4.2014
"Our friend who lives not far from a military unit said that Russian soldiers cast their votes at an election stations. This was nothing but fabrication. Have you seen the video showing a Russian citizen who was allowed to vote? 97 % for accesion to Russia is unreal, and even not consistent with the reality at all. My Ukrainian neighbour failed to cast her vore as well. There are 14 % of Crimean Tatars, she said, but we are actually more in number. A lot of people were out of town, which also should be taken into account."
#Crimea after annexation: 'We feel utterly discouraged,' resident says (interview) http://t.co/cQQb9h0hKd #Russiainvadesukraine
— Belsat in English (@Belsat_Eng) April 2, 2014