11:36
26.5.2014
Not necessarily winning eastern friends with this remark:
11:38
26.5.2014
12:00
26.5.2014
12:02
26.5.2014
ITAR-TASS quotes ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych as saying he "respect[s] the choice" made by Ukrainians in yesterday's election. Here's more of the statement from Yanukovych's Rostov-on-Don exile, according to the agency's translation:
"Early presidential elections were held in Ukraine. Irrespective of the region and the percentage of electors that took part in the vote, I respect the choice that you have made at this difficult time for our Motherland," Yanukovych said in a statement.
"But I want to note that participation of our country's south-east is necessary for the legitimacy of the election and the legitimacy of the president. Many electors from these regions were insulted and humbled by the actions of the illegitimate authorities that had come to power through a military coup," Yanukovych said.
"But I want to note that participation of our country's south-east is necessary for the legitimacy of the election and the legitimacy of the president. Many electors from these regions were insulted and humbled by the actions of the illegitimate authorities that had come to power through a military coup," Yanukovych said.
12:04
26.5.2014
The latest wrap-up from our newsroom:
Ukraine’s likely new president and Moscow have signaled they are ready to talk over the crisis in Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters in Kyiv May 26, Petro Poroshenko said he plans to meet with the Russian leadership in early June, adding that stability in eastern Ukraine was not possible without Moscow’s participation.
Poroshenko added that he wants to continue the military offensive in the separatist east but to make it more "efficient."
Poroshenko also said he has no plan to change the country’s current government and its prime minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk.
In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia is ready for a dialogue with Poroshenko.
Lavrov added that Moscow regards "dialogue and compromise between Kyiv and the regions" as the key to resolving Ukraine's crisis. But he warned Kyiv against stepping up operations against separatists now that voting is over.
Finally, Lavrov said that Ukraine's presidential campaign was "not without problems" but reiterated Russian President Vladimir Putin's stance that "Russia will respect the will of the Ukrainian people."
Preliminary results from Ukraine’s May 25 vote suggest Poroshenko could win without a runoff.
Ukraine's election commission said Poroshenko won almost 54 percent of the vote after ballots from half of the precincts have been counted.
Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko received 13 percent, followed by Oleh Lyashko with 8.5 percent of the vote, and Anatoliy Hrytsenko with 5.5 percent.
The Central Election Commission said national turnout stood at more than 60 percent, although only a fraction of the stations in the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk were opened.
Both regions declared independence after disputed referendums on 11 May.
The White House welcomed the results, hailing the "courageous" Ukrainians and saying the election was another step forward toward uniting the country.
Based on reporting by AFP, Reuters, and Interfax
Speaking to reporters in Kyiv May 26, Petro Poroshenko said he plans to meet with the Russian leadership in early June, adding that stability in eastern Ukraine was not possible without Moscow’s participation.
Poroshenko added that he wants to continue the military offensive in the separatist east but to make it more "efficient."
Poroshenko also said he has no plan to change the country’s current government and its prime minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk.
In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia is ready for a dialogue with Poroshenko.
Lavrov added that Moscow regards "dialogue and compromise between Kyiv and the regions" as the key to resolving Ukraine's crisis. But he warned Kyiv against stepping up operations against separatists now that voting is over.
Finally, Lavrov said that Ukraine's presidential campaign was "not without problems" but reiterated Russian President Vladimir Putin's stance that "Russia will respect the will of the Ukrainian people."
Preliminary results from Ukraine’s May 25 vote suggest Poroshenko could win without a runoff.
Ukraine's election commission said Poroshenko won almost 54 percent of the vote after ballots from half of the precincts have been counted.
Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko received 13 percent, followed by Oleh Lyashko with 8.5 percent of the vote, and Anatoliy Hrytsenko with 5.5 percent.
The Central Election Commission said national turnout stood at more than 60 percent, although only a fraction of the stations in the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk were opened.
Both regions declared independence after disputed referendums on 11 May.
The White House welcomed the results, hailing the "courageous" Ukrainians and saying the election was another step forward toward uniting the country.
Based on reporting by AFP, Reuters, and Interfax
12:17
26.5.2014
RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service quotes Poroshenko as saying that while counterterrorist operations should continue, they "cannot last two or three months...but hours" and ought to be conducted with more adequately supplied troops.
12:22
26.5.2014
The Ukrainian Naitonal Security Service (SBU) shares video that it says shows the detention of "terrorists" who were disrupting voting in the Luhansk region. (via @Euromaidan)
12:23
26.5.2014
12:23
26.5.2014
12:54
26.5.2014
With the area cordoned off by Ukrainian security forces, there are reports of gunfire, smoke, and fighter jets in the air around the Donetsk airport that was stormed this morning by separatist gunmen.