World News liveblog
Reuters live coverage of events around the world. Follow @ReutersWorld on Twitter for top news and @ReutersLive for live video events.
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An anti-government protester stands by barricades in Kiev's Independence Square February 19, 2014. REUTERS/Yannis Behrakis
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French, German and Polish ministers plan to visit Ukraine Thursday
The foreign ministers of France, Germany and Poland will travel to Kiev on Thursday to assess the situation before a meeting in Brussels to decide whether to impose EU sanctions on Ukraine, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Wednesday.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich accused pro-European opposition leaders of trying to seize power by force after at least 26 people died in the worst violence since the former Soviet republic gained independence.
Click here to read more. -
Reuters Picture: Anti-government protesters gather at a barricade in central Kiev February 19, 2014. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili
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Delivery of $2 billion second tranche of Russian credit to Ukraine delayed until Friday "for technical reasons": Ukraine government source -
@David_Cameron - "Yanukovich should be under no doubt that the world is watching his actions. Those responsible... will be held accountable"
— Jack Stubbs (@jc_stubbs) February 19, 2014 -
Riot police officers spray anti-government protesters with water in Independence Square in central Kiev February 19, 2014. REUTERS/Olga Yakimovich
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Interior Ministry members stand in formation as their colleagues attempt to extinguish a fire during clashes with anti-government protesters in Independence Square in central Kiev February 19, 2014. REUTERS/Olga Yakimovich
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Photo below shows extent of security forces' advance on the protest site in central Kiev. Area shown was previously occupied by tents, soup kitchens and volunteer points providing warm clothing and medical care to protesters.
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An aerial view shows Independence Square during clashes between anti-government protesters and Interior Ministry members and riot police in central Kiev February 19, 2014. REUTERS/Olga Yakimovich
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Ukraine sovereign dollar bonds hit record lows
LONDON (Reuters) - Ukraine's sovereign dollar bonds hit record lows across the curve on Wednesday as concerns intensified over the country's ability to repay its debt.
Moscow deflected questions about when Russia would release the second instalment of a $15-billion bailout package for Ukraine .
The central bank is fast running out of reserves, raising concerns that without an external bailout Ukraine may head for a default. -
U.N. rights chief urges restraint in Ukraine
GENEVA (Reuters) - All sides involved in Ukraine's violence must exercise maximum restraint, U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay said on Wednesday.
"I reiterate my call for respect for the right to peaceful assembly, as provided under international human rights law, to be respected," Pillay said in a statement.
"I also call for an urgent and independent investigation to establish facts and responsibilities, including the possible use of excessive force, and to ensure accountability for these deadly clashes," she added. -
"There is no 'their' Ukraine, or 'your' Ukraine. It is OUR Ukraine," - #Ukraine Olympic chief urges end to violence: http://t.co/iWVKtICWg1
— Jack Stubbs (@jc_stubbs) February 19, 2014 -
Ukrainians block road to border crossing with Poland - guards
WARSAW (Reuters) - Dozens of Ukrainians blocked a road to a border crossing into Poland on Wednesday, the Polish boarder guard service said, adding that no other crossings had been affected so far.
"We have received information from people who still managed to cross the border that about 200 Ukrainians were blocking this morning the road to the Korczowa crossing. There could be about 300 now," a border guard press officer told Reuters.
"We cannot be sure but some information suggests that they are oppositions protesters," the press officer added.
The blockage was reported inside Ukrainian territory, near the crossing over the border to the Polish village of Korczowa. -
Russia urges Ukrainian opposition to stop bloodshed
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia on Wednesday demanded that Ukrainian opposition leaders "stop the bloodshed" in Kiev and said Moscow would use all its influence to bring peace to its "friendly brother state".
"The Russian side demands that leaders of the (opposition) stop the bloodshed in their country, immediately resume dialogue with the lawful authorities without threats or ultimatums," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"Ukraine is a friendly brother state an a strategic partner, and we will use all our influence in order for peace and calm to reign," it said, without giving any detail about what steps Russia might take. -
Current events in #Ukraine were painfully predictable, yet #EU express shock. Targeted sanctions earlier could have prevented escalation.
— Maxim Tucker (@MaxRTucker) February 19, 2014 -
Excellent that Catherine Ashton has now called the FM's of EU to an extraordinary meeting in Brussels tomorrow at 14:00.
— Carl Bildt (@carlbildt) February 19, 2014 -
EU expected to agree Ukraine sanctions urgently - Barroso
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union governments are expected to urgently agree sanctions against those responsible for violence and use of excessive force in Ukraine, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said on Wednesday.
"We have ... made it clear that the EU will respond to any deterioration on the ground. We therefore expect that targeted measures against those responsible for violence and use of excessive force can be agreed by our member states as a matter of urgency," Barroso said in a statement.
"We call on all sides to immediately put an end to the violence and engage into a meaningful dialogue, responding to the democratic aspirations of the Ukrainian people," he said. -
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A portrait of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich burns near the destroyed building of the security service in Lviv February 19, 2014. REUTERS/Marian Striltsiv
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Ukrainian Olympic Committee chief and former pole vault champion Sergey Bubka - "I want to bring Olympic Truce to my country. Dialogue is power, violence is weakness."
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Acting Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhiy Arbuzov said on Wednesday that overnight clashes between police and anti-government protesters in Kiev amounted to an attempted coup. "This was not a demonstration of democracy ... It is the manipulation of people's minds and an attempt to seize power by force," he told a televised government meeting.
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Picture below shows the destruction of Kiev's protest encampment overnight. Area shown was previously site of soup kitchens and tents housing the hundreds of anti-government protesters who have occupied Independence Square since November last year.
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Pic via @Kateryna_Kruk shows police/protester battle-lines on Kiev's Independence Square this morning
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Welcome to Reuters' Jack Stubbs, recently back from reporting stints in Ukraine. He'll be joining our liveblog and sharing the benefit of his on-the-ground knowledge
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Protest action in Kiev was an "attempt to seize power" - interim PM
KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine's interim prime minister said on Wednesday that protests which brought violent clashes with police on Tuesday amounted to an attempted coup.
"This was not a demonstration of democracy ... It is the manipulation of people's minds and an attempt to seize power by force," Serhiy Arbuzov told a televised government meeting. -
Violence and chaos lingers overnight in the Ukrainian capital Kiev as clashes between anti-government demonstrators and police continue. Julie Noce reports
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The White House says it is ''appalled'' by violence in the streets of Ukraine and calls on Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich to ''deescalate immediately the situation and end the confrontation.''
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Anti-government protesters throw wood into a fire at a barricade during clashes with Interior Ministry members and riot police in central Kiev early hours February 19, 2014. REUTERS/Maks Levin
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Ukraine protesters confront police anew after nation's bloodiest day
KIEV - Ukrainian protesters poured on to a central Kiev square on Wednesday, preparing to confront police anew after the bloodiest day since the former Soviet republic, caught in a geopolitical struggle between Russia and the West, won its independence.
After hours of clashes, police had gained ground overnight in Independence Square, center of three months of protests against President Viktor Yanukovich, and were occupying about a third of the square at 8 a.m. (0600 GMT) on Wednesday.
The square resembled a battle-zone with black smoke and flames belching from a trade union building, used as an anti-government headquarters.
The Health Ministry, updating the casualty toll, said 25 people had been killed in the fighting in the capital, of which nine were police officers.
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A view shows clashes at Independence Square in Kiev early February 19, 2014. Ukrainian riot police charged protesters occupying the central Kiev square early on Wednesday after the bloodiest day since the former Soviet republic, caught in a geopolitical struggle between Russia and the West, won its independence. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili
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Up to Speed: What’s Going on in Ukraine?
The Daily BeastYour cheat sheet to the complex web of money, power, and politics behind Ukraine’s violent protests. -
Australia urged to impose sanctions on Ukraine
NewsThe call comes after at least 18 people were killed in the latest clashes between protesters and riot police in the capital Kiev in the bloodiest outburst of violence in Ukraine over the past three months. Kiev has been wracked by anti-government protests since President Victor Yanukovch rejected a European Union pact last November in favour of closer ties with Russia. -
What Are Ukrainians Fighting For? 5 Things to Know About the Unrest - NBC News
NBC NewsHaving become the latest battle ground for a pissing match between Russia and The West, protests have been simmering for almost three months in the Ukrainian... -
Deadly Clashes Continue Into Early Morning Hours in Ukraine
Slate MagazineThe worst day of violence in Ukraine since anti-government protests began last November continued late into the night and early Wednesday morning in the center of Kiev. As many as 22 people have died, including seven police officers, and many more have been injured in clashes that began around 8... -
Anti-government protesters throw missiles during clashes with riot police at the Independence Square in Kiev February 18, 2014. Ukrainian riot police started to move into Kiev's Independence Square late on Tuesday, pushing back anti-government protesters whose tents were burning, local television showed. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili
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U.S. is ‘appalled’ by deadly violence in Ukraine
Washington PostWhite House announces no specific action and does not immediately lay blame. -
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Reuters: Headquarters of Ukrainian opposition in Kiev independence square is on fire
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Reuters: Biden urged Ukraine's Yanukovich to exercise maximum restraint
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Ukraine president to make announcement after at least 19 die in protests
CNNA violent showdown appeared likely in Ukraine after new clashes left 19 people dead and parts of the capital afire. -
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Ukraine riot police move in on Kiev protesters after 14 die
Ukrainian riot police advanced on Tuesday onto a central Kiev square occupied by protesters, after at least 14 people died in the worst day of violence since demonstrations erupted against President Viktor Yanukovich 12 weeks ago.
Protesters on Independence Square responded with petrol bombs, fireworks and stones, as police moved slowly forward, hours after the state security service had set a deadline for the demonstrators to end disorder or face "tough measures".
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Putin says Russia will follow up fast after Ukraine call with Biden
MOSCOW Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Russia would send ideas to Washington within a week to follow up his talks with U.S. President Joe Biden on the Ukraine crisis.
