17:30
7.4.2014
ethnic Ukrainians account for 56.9% in Donetsk region, 70.7% in Kharkiv region & 58 % in the Luhansk region, http://t.co/sZtlLS2SnR
— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) April 7, 2014
17:50
7.4.2014
Our Washington correspondent Carl Schreck quotes the White House suggesting there is "strong evidence" that some of the pro-Moscow protesters "were paid and not local residents."
White House spokesman Jay Carney described the latest developments as the result of "increasing Russian pressure on Ukraine."
White House spokesman Jay Carney described the latest developments as the result of "increasing Russian pressure on Ukraine."
17:56
7.4.2014
Yuliya Tymoshenko, who is running in the May presidential election, had this to say today in Donetsk:
"These people can be divided into two categories: the first are representatives and members of the Russian Federation's special forces; the second are people hired by them, and they behave in quite an aggressive way."
"There are about 200 people in the regional administration building [in Donetsk]. There are a few people among them who are armed and who use weapons. It was very important for me to see that this aggression currently instigated here has nothing to do with the life, wishes, and views prevalent in Donetsk."
"I am convinced today, after talking to people, after talking to the people of Donetsk, that nobody wants war. Nobody wants instability. Everybody wants peace, calm, economic stability, adequate earnings, everybody wants new jobs, and nobody wants a war that would last for many years. Everybody comprehends a monstrous face of war."
"There are about 200 people in the regional administration building [in Donetsk]. There are a few people among them who are armed and who use weapons. It was very important for me to see that this aggression currently instigated here has nothing to do with the life, wishes, and views prevalent in Donetsk."
"I am convinced today, after talking to people, after talking to the people of Donetsk, that nobody wants war. Nobody wants instability. Everybody wants peace, calm, economic stability, adequate earnings, everybody wants new jobs, and nobody wants a war that would last for many years. Everybody comprehends a monstrous face of war."
18:02
7.4.2014
Reuters quotes a spokeswoman for the Luhansk regional Prosecutor-General's Office, Maryna Bragina, as saying "talks will be held in the near future" with the pro-Russian protesters who have occupied the city administration building and Ukrainian Security Service headquarters there and raided a cache of weapons. "We are putting together a working group that will conduct the talks."
18:20
7.4.2014
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, in a telephone conversation, has reportedly told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that events in eastern Ukraine did not appear to be "spontaneous." The State Department said Kerry made clear any further Russian efforts to destabilize Ukraine will incur further costs for Russia.
18:21
7.4.2014
Reuters reports:
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Kerry "called on Russia to publicly disavow the activities of separatists, saboteurs, and provocateurs" in Ukraine.
She said the two discussed convening direct talks in the next 10 days between Ukraine, Russia, the United States and the European Union to defuse tensions.
She said the two discussed convening direct talks in the next 10 days between Ukraine, Russia, the United States and the European Union to defuse tensions.
19:01
7.4.2014
Here are highlights of acting Ukraine President Turchynov's televised speech to the country today, in which he described the eastern Ukraine occupations and unrests as "the second wave in Russia's special operation against Ukraine."
19:03
7.4.2014
White House spokesman Jay Carney told a press briefing in Washington that the United States is "concerned about several escalatory moves in Ukraine over the weekend, and we see those as a result of increased Russian pressure on Ukraine." Here are more statements from that appearance:
“We saw groups of pro-Russian demonstrators take over government buildings in the eastern cities of Kharkiv, Donetsk and Luhansk, and there is strong evidence suggesting some of these demonstrators were paid and were not local residents.”
“If Russia moves into eastern Ukraine, either overtly or covertly, this would be a very serious escalation. We call on President Putin and his government to cease all efforts to destabilize Ukraine, and we caution against further military intervention.”
“We have the authorities already to impose further sanctions, and the president and his team will continue to assess Russia’s actions and whether or not to impose those further sanctions. We also have the authorities to impose further sanctions for the transgressions already made by Russia when it comes to Crimea.”
“If Russia moves into eastern Ukraine, either overtly or covertly, this would be a very serious escalation. We call on President Putin and his government to cease all efforts to destabilize Ukraine, and we caution against further military intervention.”
“We have the authorities already to impose further sanctions, and the president and his team will continue to assess Russia’s actions and whether or not to impose those further sanctions. We also have the authorities to impose further sanctions for the transgressions already made by Russia when it comes to Crimea.”
19:34
7.4.2014
Barring major developments, that concludes our live blogging for April 7. Thanks for following events with us.
05:13
8.4.2014
Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov says a counterterrorist operation is under way in the eastern city of Kharkiv. That's where pro-Russians stormed and occupied a local administration building. Interfax quoted Avakov as saying that about 70 "separatists" had been arrested.