07:58
3.4.2014
Ukrainian forces carry out war games in Desna, Chernihiv region - PHOTOS http://t.co/x8vv6tR24J pic.twitter.com/bCRmhjI3lK
— KyivPost (@KyivPost) April 3, 2014
08:13
3.4.2014
RFE/RL's news desk has some more details regarding Sergei Lavrov's "de-escalation" comments:
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said some Russian troops near the Ukrainian border will return to permanent bases after completing military drills, and called for the "de-escalation" of rhetoric over the Ukrainian crisis.
At a news conference in Moscow on April 3 with his Kazakh counterpart, Lavrov said one battalion involved in the drills has already returned to base in the Rostov region.
He said other units would be returning to their bases after they "fulfill their tasks" in the military exercises.
He said "there are no restrictions on the movements of military units within the territory of the Russian Federation" and he added "our Western partners recognize this."
Lavrov also said Moscow has addressed questions to NATO about the alliance's activities in East Europe.
He added, "We are not only expecting answers, but answers that will be based fully on respect for the rules we agreed on."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said some Russian troops near the Ukrainian border will return to permanent bases after completing military drills, and called for the "de-escalation" of rhetoric over the Ukrainian crisis.
At a news conference in Moscow on April 3 with his Kazakh counterpart, Lavrov said one battalion involved in the drills has already returned to base in the Rostov region.
He said other units would be returning to their bases after they "fulfill their tasks" in the military exercises.
He said "there are no restrictions on the movements of military units within the territory of the Russian Federation" and he added "our Western partners recognize this."
Lavrov also said Moscow has addressed questions to NATO about the alliance's activities in East Europe.
He added, "We are not only expecting answers, but answers that will be based fully on respect for the rules we agreed on."
08:35
3.4.2014
How #Russia's Gazprom has stumbled, and what it tells us about Putin's vulnerabilities http://t.co/qukcXADPYs via @BloombergNews
— Jonathan Eyal (@JEyal_RUSI) April 3, 2014
09:05
3.4.2014
Another item from RFE/RL's news desk:
Officials from Ukraine's Naftogaz company are due in Moscow today where they are expected to meet with Gazprom director Aleksei Miller.
It would be the first time Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuriy Prodan and Naftogaz head Andrei Kobolev have met with Russian energy officials.
Gazprom has not commented on the meeting.
The state-controlled Russian energy corporation has stated that Ukraine owes it some $1.7 billion in arrears.
Miller announced two days ago that the price of natural gas for Ukraine has been increased by more than 40 percent per thousand cubic meters for the second quarter of 2014, to a price of $385.5 per thousand cubic meters.
Gazprom officials said the increase is in line with a December agreement in which the price is increased if Ukraine does not pay its bill on time.
It would be the first time Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuriy Prodan and Naftogaz head Andrei Kobolev have met with Russian energy officials.
Gazprom has not commented on the meeting.
The state-controlled Russian energy corporation has stated that Ukraine owes it some $1.7 billion in arrears.
Miller announced two days ago that the price of natural gas for Ukraine has been increased by more than 40 percent per thousand cubic meters for the second quarter of 2014, to a price of $385.5 per thousand cubic meters.
Gazprom officials said the increase is in line with a December agreement in which the price is increased if Ukraine does not pay its bill on time.
09:46
3.4.2014
The mass murder of #Euromaidan protesters was organized with the help of Yanukovych - Security Service chief pic.twitter.com/lmLlKoEiyE
— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) April 3, 2014
10:08
3.4.2014
Russia says has evidence Ukrainian far-right behind snipers. Ukraine says has evidence security services with Rus FSB consultation to blame.
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) April 3, 2014
10:22
3.4.2014
A little more detail on the news that investigators are holding Yanukovych responsible for the Maidan deaths by sniper fire:
Ukrainian security officials say the killings of protesters in Kyiv in February occurred "under the direct leadership" of ousted President Viktor Yanukovych, and accused Russian security services of involvement in the repression.
Interior Minister Arsen Avakov told a news conference that Yanukovych "issued the criminal order... to open fire against protesters on February 18-20."
More than 100 people were killed during the protests which started in November, most of them between February 18-20.
Many of those who died appeared to have been killed by snipers.
Valentyn Nalyvaychenko, the head of Ukraine's security service, said that employees of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) took part in "planning" the security forces' "operation" against Maidan protesters.
An FSB spokesman immediately rejected Nalyvaychenko's statement.
Yanukovych fled the day after the worst of the killings by sniper fire on February 20 and was later ousted by parliament.
Interior Minister Arsen Avakov told a news conference that Yanukovych "issued the criminal order... to open fire against protesters on February 18-20."
More than 100 people were killed during the protests which started in November, most of them between February 18-20.
Many of those who died appeared to have been killed by snipers.
Valentyn Nalyvaychenko, the head of Ukraine's security service, said that employees of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) took part in "planning" the security forces' "operation" against Maidan protesters.
An FSB spokesman immediately rejected Nalyvaychenko's statement.
Yanukovych fled the day after the worst of the killings by sniper fire on February 20 and was later ousted by parliament.
10:35
3.4.2014
Ramzan Kadyrov opens account with Rossiya Bank - target of US sanctions. http://t.co/VNxzCNMq78
— Leonid Ragozin (@leonidragozin) April 3, 2014
11:31
3.4.2014
Here's an update on Gazprom's meeting with Naftogaz officials today:
Officials from Ukraine's Naftogaz company were in Moscow today to discuss Ukraine's debt and the transit of gas to Europe with Gazprom director Aleksei Miller.
Miller told Ukrainian officials their country's debt for Russian gas now stands at some $2.2 billion, up from an estimate earlier this week of some $1.7 billion.
Gazprom explained the different figures by saying Ukraine had imported $500 million of gas in March.
Miller also urged Ukraine to fill its underground gas storage facilities to ensure the reliable flow of Russian gas to Europe.
Gazprom says the Russian gas price for Ukraine is to rise by $100 to $485 per 1,000 cubic meters as of April.
Miller told Ukrainian officials their country's debt for Russian gas now stands at some $2.2 billion, up from an estimate earlier this week of some $1.7 billion.
Gazprom explained the different figures by saying Ukraine had imported $500 million of gas in March.
Miller also urged Ukraine to fill its underground gas storage facilities to ensure the reliable flow of Russian gas to Europe.
Gazprom says the Russian gas price for Ukraine is to rise by $100 to $485 per 1,000 cubic meters as of April.
11:59
3.4.2014
In a news conference today, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov referred to the Montreux Convention, which restricts how long naval ships not belonging to Black Sea states can remain in its waters.
Here's a little more background on this document, as compiled by RFE/RL's Information Unit
Here's a little more background on this document, as compiled by RFE/RL's Information Unit
- The Convention Regarding the Regime of the Straits 1936 (the Montreux Convention) governs transit of vessels through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles Straits that connect the Aegean Sea to the Black Sea. This compound strait, which also includes the inland Sea of Marmara, is completely surrounded by Turkey, and provides the only access to the ocean for Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, and Georgia.
- Freedom of navigation by warships through the straits is accorded by a formula that depends on whether they occur during time of peace, time of war in which Turkey is a neutral power, time of war when Turkey is a belligerent and periods of time Turkey considers itself threatened or in imminent danger of war.
- During time of peace, or during war when Turkey is a neutral power, nine or fewer light warships and auxiliary vessels may transit the straits simultaneously, so long as their aggregate tonnage does not exceed 15,000 tons. Aircraft carriers are not permitted, a limitation that caused controversy beginning in the mid-1970s when smaller Russian carriers were classified as “aircraft-carrying cruisers” to avoid the rule.
- Black Sea states enjoy greater rights to transit the straits with heavy surface vessels, and they are not bound by restrictions that limit the number of warships or length of stay of warships from non-Black Sea naval forces. Each warship from a non-Black Sea state may remain in the Black Sea for no more than 21 days, and the maximum aggregate tonnage of all non-Black Sea warships in the Black Sea is 45,000 tons.
- Under terms of the treaty, during a period when Turkey is at war, or, as the treaty states, "should Turkey consider herself to be threatened with imminent danger of war," the passage of warships falls entirely within the discretion of the Turkish government. In such circumstances, merchant ships continue to enjoy transit rights, although they must enter in daylight and comply with traffic separation schemes and mandatory pilotage established by Turkey. (Source: World Politics Review)