17:17
5.4.2014
From RFE/RL's News Desk:
Results of a new U.S.-funded survey say most Russian-speaking citizens in Ukraine do not feel “under pressure or threatened" because of their language. The International Republic Institute (IRI) said the findings “contradict claims by Moscow that Russian-speaking citizens are being threatened, a claim many believe is a pretext to further Russian incursions into Ukraine.” According to the results, 85 percent of Ukrainians, and 66 percent of ethnic Russians, said they don't feel that Russian-speaking citizens are facing increased pressures since the February ouster of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych. The IRI said 1,200 people participated in the poll, which was conducted in all Ukrainian regions, including Crimea, from March 14-26. The U.S. Agency for International Development funded the survey.
Results of a new U.S.-funded survey say most Russian-speaking citizens in Ukraine do not feel “under pressure or threatened" because of their language. The International Republic Institute (IRI) said the findings “contradict claims by Moscow that Russian-speaking citizens are being threatened, a claim many believe is a pretext to further Russian incursions into Ukraine.” According to the results, 85 percent of Ukrainians, and 66 percent of ethnic Russians, said they don't feel that Russian-speaking citizens are facing increased pressures since the February ouster of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych. The IRI said 1,200 people participated in the poll, which was conducted in all Ukrainian regions, including Crimea, from March 14-26. The U.S. Agency for International Development funded the survey.
16:05
5.4.2014
So who is Sergei Besada, the FSB officer who was reportedly in Kyiv on Feb. 20-21? Andrei Soldatov at Agentura.ru has some details.
15:58
5.4.2014
Separatist protestor numbers continue to fall. 150 come out in Lugansk while 500 scream and yell pro Putin nonsense in Donetsk
— bruce springnote (@BSpringnote) April 5, 2014
15:58
5.4.2014
Armenian ambassador in Kiev says Armenia did not betray Ukraine with its vote in UN General Assembly. It voted its national self interest
— bruce springnote (@BSpringnote) April 5, 2014
15:56
5.4.2014
Poll in Ukraine by IRI, American pro-democracy NGO, says 66 pct ethnic Russians feel no threat, refuting a #Russia basis for seizing #Crimea
— David M. Herszenhorn (@herszenhorn) April 5, 2014
15:53
5.4.2014
From RFE/RL's News Desk:
European Union foreign ministers have pledged to continue dialogue with Russia to ease tensions over Moscow’s seizure of Ukraine’s Crimea, news agencies report. However, the ministers again warned the EU must be ready to impose further sanctions on Russia if Moscow continues to threaten the region. Speaking Saturday at an informal EU meeting in Greece, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said the EU will continue to consult with Russia as the bloc prepares to sign trade and political accords with former Soviet states Moldova and Georgia in June. Some ministers said they were uneasy about how Russia could respond. Amid concerns over steep price hikes Russia is imposing on Ukraine for Russian gas, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said it was not in Russia’s interest to have a “collapsing state” on its border.
European Union foreign ministers have pledged to continue dialogue with Russia to ease tensions over Moscow’s seizure of Ukraine’s Crimea, news agencies report. However, the ministers again warned the EU must be ready to impose further sanctions on Russia if Moscow continues to threaten the region. Speaking Saturday at an informal EU meeting in Greece, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said the EU will continue to consult with Russia as the bloc prepares to sign trade and political accords with former Soviet states Moldova and Georgia in June. Some ministers said they were uneasy about how Russia could respond. Amid concerns over steep price hikes Russia is imposing on Ukraine for Russian gas, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said it was not in Russia’s interest to have a “collapsing state” on its border.
14:25
5.4.2014
In an ominous sign, ITAR-TASS is quoting the Russian Foreign Ministry as saying they are receiving "many letters" from Ukrainian citizens asking Moscow to protect their rights.
ROZHDESTVENO, Moscow Region, April 5 (Itar-Tass) - The Russian Foreign Ministry has continued to receive many letters from residents of Ukraine who asked to protect their rights and freedoms, the head of the ministry's department of CIS countries, Viktor Sorokin, told a meeting of deputies of the party A Just Russia.
"We in the Foreign Ministry have received sacks of letters during all these months. Ordinary citizens ask to protect their basic rights to have free access to mass media and freely talk in their native language,"
Sorokin said.
"We in the Foreign Ministry have received sacks of letters during all these months. Ordinary citizens ask to protect their basic rights to have free access to mass media and freely talk in their native language,"
Sorokin said.
14:21
5.4.2014
Via AP:
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The European Union will continue to work with Russia and Ukraine to reduce tensions between the two countries but will keep sanctions as an option, the EU foreign policy chief said Saturday.
Catherine Ashton said "work is ongoing" to ensure the 28-nation bloc is prepared to take measures against Russia if that becomes necessary, and stressed the "need to persuade Russia to deescalate the situation."
Catherine Ashton said "work is ongoing" to ensure the 28-nation bloc is prepared to take measures against Russia if that becomes necessary, and stressed the "need to persuade Russia to deescalate the situation."
14:17
5.4.2014
Some key quotes from Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, speaking on April 5 at a government meeting in Kyiv.
On potential for "reverse delivery" of gas to Ukraine:
"I addressed several questions to our European partners and our American partners. The first one is a 'reverse' delivery of gas to the territory of Ukraine. By different estimates we can technically receive up to 20 billion cubic meters of gas per year thanks to 'reverse' delivery from Slovakia, Poland, and Hungary. The price for such delivery will be 100-150 dollars less than the price established by the Russian Federation."
Accusing Russia of "economic aggression":
"The Russian government together with the company Gazprom, which is part of the Russian government, declared an unprecedented increase in the price of natural gas for Ukraine, which now amounts to almost $500 [per cubic meter]. That is the highest price in all of Europe. It is not an economic but a political price. Russia was unable to seize Ukraine by means of military aggression. Now they are implementing plans to seize Ukraine through economic aggression."
On how much Ukraine is prepared to pay for Russian gas:
"Ukraine is ready to buy natural gas [from Russia] for a price which existed from the beginning of the current year: $268 [per cubic meter]. That is an acceptable and balanced market price. We are prepared to pay for all the previously supplied gas and we are looking forward to an official answer from the Russian company Gazprom."
On possibility of Ukraine taking its case to arbitration:
"I want to state separately that we will use all methods in legal relations with the Russian monopoly company Gazprom to regulate the situation, including international legal methods."
On potential for "reverse delivery" of gas to Ukraine:
"I addressed several questions to our European partners and our American partners. The first one is a 'reverse' delivery of gas to the territory of Ukraine. By different estimates we can technically receive up to 20 billion cubic meters of gas per year thanks to 'reverse' delivery from Slovakia, Poland, and Hungary. The price for such delivery will be 100-150 dollars less than the price established by the Russian Federation."
Accusing Russia of "economic aggression":
"The Russian government together with the company Gazprom, which is part of the Russian government, declared an unprecedented increase in the price of natural gas for Ukraine, which now amounts to almost $500 [per cubic meter]. That is the highest price in all of Europe. It is not an economic but a political price. Russia was unable to seize Ukraine by means of military aggression. Now they are implementing plans to seize Ukraine through economic aggression."
On how much Ukraine is prepared to pay for Russian gas:
"Ukraine is ready to buy natural gas [from Russia] for a price which existed from the beginning of the current year: $268 [per cubic meter]. That is an acceptable and balanced market price. We are prepared to pay for all the previously supplied gas and we are looking forward to an official answer from the Russian company Gazprom."
On possibility of Ukraine taking its case to arbitration:
"I want to state separately that we will use all methods in legal relations with the Russian monopoly company Gazprom to regulate the situation, including international legal methods."
14:12
5.4.2014
RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reporting 700-800 turn out at pro-Russia rally in Donetsk.
У #Донецьк`у за «#референдум» і федералізацію мітингували близько 800 людей. http://t.co/giJkfsbYNs
— Радіо Свобода (@radiosvoboda) April 5, 2014