08:11
8.6.2014
08:10
8.6.2014
Here's an update from our news desk on the three-way gas talks that are taking place in Brussels tomorrow:
Officials from Ukraine, Russia, and the European Union will hold talks in Brussels on June 9 in an effort to resolve Kyiv's natural-gas debt to Moscow.
A Russian Energy Ministry official said the three sides will also negotiate a price for Ukraine's gas imports from Russia.
Russian gas giant Gazprom nearly doubled the price of natural gas for Ukraine after the February ouster of President Viktor Yanukovych, a Moscow ally.
Ukraine has insisted on paying $268.5 per 1,000 cubic meters for Russian natural gas, while Moscow has said the price was increased to $485 per 1,000 cubic meters.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has threatened to take the issue to an international arbitration court in Stockholm if Moscow does not agree to the lower price.
But he said there could be a compromise on the price.
A Russian Energy Ministry official said the three sides will also negotiate a price for Ukraine's gas imports from Russia.
Russian gas giant Gazprom nearly doubled the price of natural gas for Ukraine after the February ouster of President Viktor Yanukovych, a Moscow ally.
Ukraine has insisted on paying $268.5 per 1,000 cubic meters for Russian natural gas, while Moscow has said the price was increased to $485 per 1,000 cubic meters.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has threatened to take the issue to an international arbitration court in Stockholm if Moscow does not agree to the lower price.
But he said there could be a compromise on the price.
08:09
8.6.2014
Good morning, getting our live blog started for another day.
17:49
7.6.2014
Barring any dramatic developments, we are now closing the live blog for today. Don't forget that you can find all our latest Ukraine coverage here.
Before we go, we'll leave you with some of the thoughts of U.S. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, who was present at today's inauguration:
Before we go, we'll leave you with some of the thoughts of U.S. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, who was present at today's inauguration:
A U.S. congresswoman attending the inauguration ceremony of new Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said "the world wants to help" Ukraine in its quest toward a "more open, less corrupt" society.
Attending the event as part of a U.S. delegation headed by Vice President Joe Biden, Marcy Kaptur (Ohio-Democrat) told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service on June 7 that the Ukrainian people have a "big job ahead in making sure that the ministries are honestly run, that young people and experienced people are recruited, who can manage those without bribes, without any hint of corruption or crime."
She said time would be needed for the new president to take control.
"We are more than happy to continue exchanges any way that other countries in the world can assist Ukraine in shaping a vision for herself of where she wants to go," Kaptur added.
She said Ukraine will move forward, not backward, and will elevate itself to meet European Union standards.
Attending the event as part of a U.S. delegation headed by Vice President Joe Biden, Marcy Kaptur (Ohio-Democrat) told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service on June 7 that the Ukrainian people have a "big job ahead in making sure that the ministries are honestly run, that young people and experienced people are recruited, who can manage those without bribes, without any hint of corruption or crime."
She said time would be needed for the new president to take control.
"We are more than happy to continue exchanges any way that other countries in the world can assist Ukraine in shaping a vision for herself of where she wants to go," Kaptur added.
She said Ukraine will move forward, not backward, and will elevate itself to meet European Union standards.
16:32
7.6.2014
Tears, promises & historic precedents: top-moments from Poroshenko's inauguration in one place https://t.co/Qr9NCA0PX8
— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) June 7, 2014
15:28
7.6.2014
The official website for the Ukrainian president has published an English transcript of Petro Poroshenko's inauguration speech:
You can read the entire speech here.
Dear compatriots from Lviv to Donetsk, from Chernihiv to Sevastopol!
We, Ukrainians, "are a living spark in the family of European nations and active members of European civilizational work". These are the words of Ivan Franko.
"To stand with one's feet and heart in Ukraine and one's head in Europe," Mykhailo Drahomanov commanded.
The return of Ukraine to its natural, European state has been long-awaited by many generations.
Dictatorship that ruled Ukraine in recent years sought to deprive us of this prospect - people rebelled.
Victorious Revolution of dignity has not only changed the government.
The country has changed. People have changed.
The time of inevitable positive changes has come.
To implement them, we need first of all peace, security and unity.
A real war, planned and unleashed in the Ukrainian Donbas, became an obstacle for enormous opportunities that opened for the European modernization of Ukraine after the fall of tyranny.
Until now, many people thought that we got independence without any difficulty.
It is not true! Entire generations of Ukrainian patriots struggled for our independence.
Heroes of Nebesna Sotnya died for it.
Warriors and civilians of Ukraine die for it.
Let us honor the memory of those who died for freedom and independence of Ukraine with a moment of silence....
We, Ukrainians, "are a living spark in the family of European nations and active members of European civilizational work". These are the words of Ivan Franko.
"To stand with one's feet and heart in Ukraine and one's head in Europe," Mykhailo Drahomanov commanded.
The return of Ukraine to its natural, European state has been long-awaited by many generations.
Dictatorship that ruled Ukraine in recent years sought to deprive us of this prospect - people rebelled.
Victorious Revolution of dignity has not only changed the government.
The country has changed. People have changed.
The time of inevitable positive changes has come.
To implement them, we need first of all peace, security and unity.
A real war, planned and unleashed in the Ukrainian Donbas, became an obstacle for enormous opportunities that opened for the European modernization of Ukraine after the fall of tyranny.
Until now, many people thought that we got independence without any difficulty.
It is not true! Entire generations of Ukrainian patriots struggled for our independence.
Heroes of Nebesna Sotnya died for it.
Warriors and civilians of Ukraine die for it.
Let us honor the memory of those who died for freedom and independence of Ukraine with a moment of silence....
You can read the entire speech here.
13:55
7.6.2014
Another Ukraine update from RFE/RL's news desk:
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry Saturday says he sees hope there could be a breakthrough on ending the Ukraine crisis which might enable Washington to avoid imposing new sanctions against Russia.
Speaking on June 7 while on vacation in the northeastern French village of Saint Brieuc, he spoke of the "possibility of a cease-fire, the possibility of Russia helping to be able to get the separatists to begin to put their guns away, get out of buildings and begin to build Ukraine, where people's needs can be met."
Kerry spoke as Petro Poroshenko was sworn in as Ukraine's new president.
Western powers have threatened to slap new sanctions on entire sectors of Russia's economy if Moscow fails to demonstrate a more cooperative approach on Ukraine by the end of the month.
Speaking on June 7 while on vacation in the northeastern French village of Saint Brieuc, he spoke of the "possibility of a cease-fire, the possibility of Russia helping to be able to get the separatists to begin to put their guns away, get out of buildings and begin to build Ukraine, where people's needs can be met."
Kerry spoke as Petro Poroshenko was sworn in as Ukraine's new president.
Western powers have threatened to slap new sanctions on entire sectors of Russia's economy if Moscow fails to demonstrate a more cooperative approach on Ukraine by the end of the month.
13:31
7.6.2014
Here's some more footage from RFE/RL's multimedia department of Petro Poroshenko's inauguration as president of Ukraine (original sound):
13:10
7.6.2014
The de facto leaders of the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in March, have responded to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's assertion today that "Crimea was and will again be Ukrainian," RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reports.
Poroshenko made the remark to standing applause during his inaugural address.
De facto Crimean Prime Minister Sergei Aksyonov said: "Crimea will never be part of Ukraine. That phase, undoubtedly, has passed."
He added that Crimea has its own defense forces that "will be ready to fulfill any orders from the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation."
De facto Crimean parliament speaker Vladimir Konstantinov said that Poroshenko and the Ukrainian authorities are "activating Western technologies with only one goal -- to create conflict between the Ukrainian and the Russian peoples" for their own profit.
Poroshenko made the remark to standing applause during his inaugural address.
De facto Crimean Prime Minister Sergei Aksyonov said: "Crimea will never be part of Ukraine. That phase, undoubtedly, has passed."
He added that Crimea has its own defense forces that "will be ready to fulfill any orders from the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation."
De facto Crimean parliament speaker Vladimir Konstantinov said that Poroshenko and the Ukrainian authorities are "activating Western technologies with only one goal -- to create conflict between the Ukrainian and the Russian peoples" for their own profit.
12:01
7.6.2014
Stopfake.org, a goup of Ukrainian journalists and activists that exposes the disinformation coming from Russia and pro-Russian goups concerning events in Ukraine, has posted a scan from a new Russian history textbook. The lesson on the Ukraine crisis and the annexation of Crimea asserts erroneously that one of the post-Viktor Yanukovych government's "first decisions was the abolishment of the Russian language's status and the prohibition of its use on a par with Ukrainian."
In fact, the Supreme Council of Ukraine did vote in February to end the special status of the Russian language in Ukraine, but Supreme Council Chairman Oleksandr Turchynov refused to sign the measure and it never had legal force.
In fact, the Supreme Council of Ukraine did vote in February to end the special status of the Russian language in Ukraine, but Supreme Council Chairman Oleksandr Turchynov refused to sign the measure and it never had legal force.