14:57
24.5.2014
The head of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry's Public Security Department briefed the country's Cabinet of Ministers on the status of polling stations in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts today. Volodymyr Hrynyak was quoted by Ukraine's UNIAN news agency as saying that 22 district electoral commissions had been set up in Donetsk Oblast, of which nine were not functioning. Twelve were formed in Luhansk Oblast, of which eight were not functioning.
14:48
24.5.2014
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has been calling on all his countrymen to vote tomorrow (from RFE/RL's news desk):
Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk is urging Ukrainians to vote in the country's May 25 presidential election to "defend Ukraine."
In a statement issued to today, Yatsenyuk told Ukrainians that they have a responsibility to vote despite threats by "bandits sponsored from abroad" to disrupt the election.
Pro-Russian separatists have vowed to block voting in areas they control in the east of the country.
The days before the election have also seen a resurgence in fighting between government forces and the separatists who have declared their own so-called "people's republics" in the east.
Yesterday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow would "respect" the outcome of the election, but he also said Ukraine has descended into what he described as "chaos and full-scale civil war."
In a statement issued to today, Yatsenyuk told Ukrainians that they have a responsibility to vote despite threats by "bandits sponsored from abroad" to disrupt the election.
Pro-Russian separatists have vowed to block voting in areas they control in the east of the country.
The days before the election have also seen a resurgence in fighting between government forces and the separatists who have declared their own so-called "people's republics" in the east.
Yesterday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow would "respect" the outcome of the election, but he also said Ukraine has descended into what he described as "chaos and full-scale civil war."
14:45
24.5.2014
According to a May 23 report by the Russian Defense Ministry's television channel, Zvezda TV, 20 trainloads carrying troops and armaments have returned to their permanent bases from military exercises being conducted in Russian regions bordering Ukraine. The television channel also reports that military transport aircraft have made 20 flights from those regions, and that all subunits involved in the exercises in remote areas will return to their permanent bases by the time summer training starts.
14:25
24.5.2014
14:24
24.5.2014
14:20
24.5.2014
According to RFE/RL's news desk, Putin has been talking about gas supplies at the St. Petersburg economic forum:
Russian President Vladimir Putin has told officials from leading energy companies that Russia is concerned about threats by "Ukrainian radicals" to disrupt gas supplies to Europe.
Addressing the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum today, Putin spoke about this alleged threat to Europe-bound Russian gas supplies transiting Ukraine and said, "I won’t deny that we are seriously worried."
Putin also addressed calls to reduce Europe's energy dependence on Russia, saying Moscow has always honored its contractual obligations to supply gas to Europe and that "loud remarks" on cutting back on Russian energy supplies were "stupid."
"Russia will not make unscrupulous use of energy prices in Asian and European markets," he said.
Putin also said Russia is aware of European plans to diversify energy suppliers, but referring to plans to import gas from the United States, Putin said it would be more expensive for Europe than purchasing Russian gas.
Addressing the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum today, Putin spoke about this alleged threat to Europe-bound Russian gas supplies transiting Ukraine and said, "I won’t deny that we are seriously worried."
Putin also addressed calls to reduce Europe's energy dependence on Russia, saying Moscow has always honored its contractual obligations to supply gas to Europe and that "loud remarks" on cutting back on Russian energy supplies were "stupid."
"Russia will not make unscrupulous use of energy prices in Asian and European markets," he said.
Putin also said Russia is aware of European plans to diversify energy suppliers, but referring to plans to import gas from the United States, Putin said it would be more expensive for Europe than purchasing Russian gas.
13:51
24.5.2014
A polling station in Mariivka, E. #Ukraine raided & closed by forces of the "Donetsk People's Republic" pic.twitter.com/zERNk2w4t4
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) May 24, 2014
13:43
24.5.2014
Very quiet in Torez, one day after shooting. Locals aren't sure if or where elections will be held tomorrow.
— Isaac Webb (@isaacdwebb) May 24, 2014
13:42
24.5.2014
A 2nd round Poroshenko v Tymoshenko would be disaster. Tymo gets 3 weeks for wrecking campaign, decisive negotiations in East are put off.
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) May 24, 2014
13:36
24.5.2014
Our news desk reports that Dmitry Rogozin is in Syria, and he's been taking a little swipe at Kyiv while he's there it seems:
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin has met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Rogozin wrote on May 24 on his Twitter account that he was meeting with officials in Damascus and "finishing meeting with Assad."
The tweet contained a picture of Rogozin shaking hands with Assad.
Завершающая встреча с президентом Асадом. pic.twitter.com/YKQshTrdvu
— Dmitry Rogozin (@Rogozin) May 24, 2014
Speaking after the meeting with the Syrian president, Rogozin contrasted upcoming presidential elections in Ukraine and Syria, saying Syria's election was being conducted in strict accordance with the constitution and "not as a result of a state coup with an accompanying usurpation of power."
Rogozin's meetings came the same day Russia announced plans to ship 12 MiG-29M/M2 fighter planes to Syria in 2016-2017.
MiG aircraft general director Sergei Korotkov said the shipment of planes was in accordance with an agreement signed in 2007.