08:47
28.5.2014
It's been rumored for a while, now "The New York Times" has more.
09:38
28.5.2014
Poroschenko/Klitschko-interview in @BILD now without paywall #Ukraine http://t.co/bNeO8RTuMh
— Paul Ronzheimer (@ronzheimer) May 28, 2014
09:45
28.5.2014
Here's an update from RFE/RL's news desk:
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is hosting a dinner in Berlin for leaders from Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova to discuss the crisis in Ukraine.
Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, and Moldovan Prime Minister Iurie Leanca are due in the German capital later today.
The talks are expected to focus specifically on the outcome of last weekend's presidential election, which was won in the first round by billionaire oligarch Petro Poroshenko.
In a telephone conversation yesterday, Merkel congratulated Poroshenko on his election and said it was now time to "continue the path of internal reconciliation."
In a statement, Merkel in particular paid tribute to people who turned out to vote in the rebel-held east of the country "despite harassment and intimidation," saying it was a "sign of hope."
Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, and Moldovan Prime Minister Iurie Leanca are due in the German capital later today.
The talks are expected to focus specifically on the outcome of last weekend's presidential election, which was won in the first round by billionaire oligarch Petro Poroshenko.
In a telephone conversation yesterday, Merkel congratulated Poroshenko on his election and said it was now time to "continue the path of internal reconciliation."
In a statement, Merkel in particular paid tribute to people who turned out to vote in the rebel-held east of the country "despite harassment and intimidation," saying it was a "sign of hope."
09:52
28.5.2014
#Ukraine arms firm balances between political masters in Kiev, biggest customer in #Russia and pro-Russia separatists http://t.co/oT8y2hCQAh
— Thomas Grove (@tggrove) May 28, 2014
10:04
28.5.2014
1 of Russian arms channels from Crimea to E.Ukraine, busted by SBU 3 days ago in Zaporizhia http://t.co/2Z9qvtUyFg pic.twitter.com/WtCfG3G18K
— Ryskeldi Satke (@RyskeldiSatke) May 28, 2014
10:14
28.5.2014
According to our news desk, Ramzan Kadyrov claims he had nothing to do with the Chechen combatants who are reportedly fighting for the pro-Russian side in east Ukraine:
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov says he has not sent any troops to fight alongside pro-Russian insurgents in eastern Ukraine.
In a statement posted on his Instagram account today, Kadyrov said two-thirds of the 3 million Chechens live outside Russia's North Caucasus Republic, so he "can't and mustn't know where each of them goes."
"If the Ukrainian authorities want so much to see 'Chechen units' in Donetsk, why go to Donetsk if there is a good highway to Kyiv?" he also said.
CNN has broadcast footage from Donetsk in which rebel fighters admit they are from Kadyrov's security forces.
The Donetsk mayor has said he believes there were Chechens among fighters wounded in fighting at the city's airport on May 26.
Russian opposition leader Boris Nemstov has alleged that the Chechens were sent to Donetsk with the knowledge of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In a statement posted on his Instagram account today, Kadyrov said two-thirds of the 3 million Chechens live outside Russia's North Caucasus Republic, so he "can't and mustn't know where each of them goes."
"If the Ukrainian authorities want so much to see 'Chechen units' in Donetsk, why go to Donetsk if there is a good highway to Kyiv?" he also said.
CNN has broadcast footage from Donetsk in which rebel fighters admit they are from Kadyrov's security forces.
The Donetsk mayor has said he believes there were Chechens among fighters wounded in fighting at the city's airport on May 26.
Russian opposition leader Boris Nemstov has alleged that the Chechens were sent to Donetsk with the knowledge of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
10:18
28.5.2014
Lukashenko even calls Poroshenko and congratulates his victory and offers support
— bruce springnote (@BSpringnote) May 28, 2014
10:24
28.5.2014
Chechens tell @courtneymoscow Kadyrov sent them to Ukraine: http://t.co/Z2ut65RP5Z Kadyrov denies on Instagram: http://t.co/XfCg2beKYG
— max seddon (@maxseddon) May 28, 2014
10:43
28.5.2014
Pro-separatist miner rally in #Donetsk. Few hundred in attendance pic.twitter.com/ZJELMTGSPE
— Courtney Weaver (@courtneymoscow) May 28, 2014
10:49
28.5.2014
Regular Power Vertical podcast participant Mark Galeotti has been blogging about Moscow's possible next move in east Ukraine:
Read the entire article here
This is the irony at work. Moscow’s strategy of chaos has worked too well, eating away not just at the cohesion of the rump Ukrainian state but also the emergent East Ukrainians, too. There appears to be increasing evidence of disputes between militias, and between the relatively professional defectors from the Ukrainian security forces, the opportunist thugs, and the “war tourists” from Russia. Thus, Moscow’s hopes to be able to cut a deal with Kyiv–regardless of whether Poroshenko can and will offer the Kremlin what it wants–depends now on bringing order to chaos. The Russians wished for chaos; now they know why so many folk tales warn of being careful what one wishes for…
Read the entire article here