15:17
2.4.2014
From our news desk, Washington suspending bilateral projects with Moscow:
The United States says it has temporarily suspended "several" bilateral projects with Russia and will hand over funding for the initiatives to Ukraine. A statement published on the State Department website says the decision was made "in response to recent events."
Washington has repeatedly condemned Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea as illegal and imposed sanctions on Russians linked to the move. The Obama administration has also warned of further measures.
The State Department statement said the projects being suspended included initiatives planned under the U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission, as well as "some cooperative law enforcement activities." No further details were given.
The statement said funding for the projects would be added to U.S. assistance to Ukraine to support economic reform, combat corruption, and recover stolen assets.
Washington has repeatedly condemned Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea as illegal and imposed sanctions on Russians linked to the move. The Obama administration has also warned of further measures.
The State Department statement said the projects being suspended included initiatives planned under the U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission, as well as "some cooperative law enforcement activities." No further details were given.
The statement said funding for the projects would be added to U.S. assistance to Ukraine to support economic reform, combat corruption, and recover stolen assets.
15:39
2.4.2014
Yanukovych was interviewed in Russian and answered in Russian. So why the headphones? pic.twitter.com/E8GFR2eDrZ photo via @maxseddon
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) April 2, 2014
16:12
2.4.2014
Yanukovych headphone mystery solved! RT @maggiemazzetti @markmackinnon some of the questions were in English :)
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) April 2, 2014
16:39
2.4.2014
From our news desk, U.S. details charges against Ukrainian oligarch:
U.S. prosecutors have accused Ukrainian businessman Dmytro Firtash and five other people of being part of an international racketeering conspiracy in which millions of dollars of bribes were paid to Indian officials to secure titanium-mining licenses.
The U.S. Justice Department unveiled the indictment against Firtash on Wednesday. It says that beginning in 2006, the suspects conspired to pay more than $18 million in bribes to secure mining contracts in India's Andra-Pradesh state.
Firtash was arrested last month in Vienna on an U.S. warrant, but the allegations against him were not immediately divulged. He was released on a record 125 million-euro ($172 million) bail on promises he will not leave Austria. The other five suspects remain at large.
Firtash was a supporter of ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.
The U.S. Justice Department unveiled the indictment against Firtash on Wednesday. It says that beginning in 2006, the suspects conspired to pay more than $18 million in bribes to secure mining contracts in India's Andra-Pradesh state.
Firtash was arrested last month in Vienna on an U.S. warrant, but the allegations against him were not immediately divulged. He was released on a record 125 million-euro ($172 million) bail on promises he will not leave Austria. The other five suspects remain at large.
Firtash was a supporter of ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.
18:01
2.4.2014
A new wrinkle in China's stance on Crimea?
China's interest in #Crimea? The China National Offshore Oil Corp looks to develop #Ukraine's Black Sea gas fields http://t.co/k3bMcxAN1x
— Micheál & Friends (@GorseFires) April 2, 2014
18:42
2.4.2014
Report: NASA Cuts All Non-ISS Ties with Russia Over Ukraine http://t.co/HCihJw7qMg #crimea #russia
— innersocial (@innersocial) April 2, 2014
18:45
2.4.2014
As noted earlier, Vladimir Putin's divorce is final. From our news desk:
The Kremlin has announced that the divorce is now final between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his wife of more than 30 years, Lyudmila. Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov gave no further details in the announcement Wednesday.
Putin and his wife announced together on a television broadcast last June that they were ending their marriage because they spent little time together. The couple has two adult daughters.
Putin and his wife announced together on a television broadcast last June that they were ending their marriage because they spent little time together. The couple has two adult daughters.
Putin, 61, has sought to keep his personal life private during his 14 years in power as president and prime minister.
19:03
2.4.2014
For Ukraine's gay community, there's good news, and bad news:
Ukraine's post-revolutionary govt is homophobic, fights local #LGBT on civil rights - Ukrainian gay rights group stmt http://t.co/k3IVJzGC44
— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) April 2, 2014
Small, but sweet victory for Ukraine's struggling gays: @LGBTportalUkr became the 1st officially registered #LGBT media in post-Soviet world
— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) April 2, 2014
20:09
2.4.2014
Barring any breaking news, this ends our blogging for April 2.
05:30
3.4.2014
Good morning. We'll start today's live blog with this short "look-ahead" item from our news desk:
U.S. President Barack Obama is to meet with congressional leaders of both parties today to discuss the situation in Ukraine.
The White House said yesterday that the meeting is to take place in the Oval Office this evening evening.
Vice President Joe Biden, House Speaker John Boehner, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell are to attend.
Obama will also update the congressional leaders on his visit to Europe last week.
The four-country trip was dominated by efforts to coordinate the West's response to Russia's actions in Ukraine.
Congress has sent Obama a bill providing $1 billion in loan guarantees to Ukraine and sanctioning Russia for its annexation of the Ukrainian region of Crimea.
U.S. President Barack Obama is to meet with congressional leaders of both parties today to discuss the situation in Ukraine.
The White House said yesterday that the meeting is to take place in the Oval Office this evening evening.
Vice President Joe Biden, House Speaker John Boehner, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell are to attend.
Obama will also update the congressional leaders on his visit to Europe last week.
The four-country trip was dominated by efforts to coordinate the West's response to Russia's actions in Ukraine.
Congress has sent Obama a bill providing $1 billion in loan guarantees to Ukraine and sanctioning Russia for its annexation of the Ukrainian region of Crimea.