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U.S., NATO do not have contingency plans for Ukraine - commander
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Neither the United States nor NATO has drawn up contingency plans for how they would respond if Russia were to intervene militarily in Ukraine's Crimea, NATO's top military commander said on Thursday.
U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove, who is also the commander of U.S. forces in Europe, said in an interview with Reuters and The Wall Street Journal that NATO had not changed the deployment of any military assets in response to tensions over Ukraine.
Asked if he was concerned about the possibility of a Russian military intervention in Crimea, Breedlove said: "I think everybody might be concerned about that but right now that is not my primary concern."
"Right now we are not planning contingencies on how to respond here. What we are doing is supporting the peaceful resolution of this business," Breedlove said. -
Russia puts 150, 000 troops on high alert for war games near Ukraine. Paul Chapman reports
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Ukraine summons Russian envoy, wants talks with Moscow
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Ukraine's Foreign Ministry summoned Russia's acting envoy in Kiev on Thursday and called for immediate consultations with Moscow following the seizure of the regional government and parliament buildings in Crimea.
It said in a written statement that the envoy, Andrei Vorobyov, had been handed a note requesting that Russian military based in the Crimean port of Sevastopol stay on base.
Russia recalled its ambassador from Kiev for consultations in Moscow after parliament stripped President Viktor Yanukovich of his powers on Saturday. The armed men in Crimea have raised the Russian flag over the regional government and parliament buildings, indicating they may be ethnic Russian separatists. -
People attend a rally in Independence Square in Kiev, February 26, 2014. REUTERS/Konstantin Chernichkin
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Ukrainian men help pull one another out of a stampede as a flag of Crimea is seen during clashes at rallies held by ethnic Russians and Crimean REUTERS/Baz Ratner
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Poland says seizure of Crimea govt offices a "dangerous step"
WARSAW (Reuters) - The seizure of government buildings by armed men in Ukraine's Crimea region could lead to a regional conflict, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on Thursday.
"This is a drastic step and I'm warning those who did this and those who allowed them to do this, because this is how regional conflicts begin. This is a very dangerous game," Sikorski told a news conference. -
what will happen in the Government headquarters due the new situation? What is the status at the maydan place?
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Russian, NATO generals discuss Ukraine
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's senior general and the top NATO military commander spoke by telephone on Monday and expressed concern over the upheaval in Ukraine, the Interfax news agency cited the Russian Defence Ministry as saying.
"The two sides expressed concern over the situation in Ukraine," Interfax quoted the ministry as saying after the conversation between U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, and General Valery Gerasimov, chief of the general staff of Russia's armed forces. -
Russia says doubts legitimacy of Ukrainian authorities
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's prime minister voiced grave doubts on Monday over the legitimacy of the authorities in Ukraine after President Viktor Yanukovich's ouster, criticising Western states for recognising officials he said came to power in an "armed mutiny".
In some of Russia's strongest statements condemning the toppling of the Moscow-backed leader, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev made clear he was not yet ready to engage with the former opposition figure appointed acting leader by parliament.
"We do not understand what is going on there. There is a real threat to our interests and to the lives of our citizens," Medvedev was quoted as telling Russian news agencies, explaining why Moscow had recalled its Kiev ambassador on Sunday.
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Ukrainians gather in D.C. to honor those killed back home
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Does Russia have legal case to challenge Ukraine sovereignty in Crimea/Sev.? See end http://t.co/nNXdquBSes and http://t.co/cQfr3Fv4Ct
— Charlie Robertson (@RencapMan) February 24, 2014 -
New Ukraine leaders say Yanukovich wanted for mass murder
By Natalia Zinets and Alessandra Prentice
KIEV - Fugitive Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich, ousted after bloody street protests in which demonstrators were shot by police snipers, is wanted for mass murder, authorities announced on Monday.
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Self-proclaimed protectors of Kiev look to Ukraine's east
By Alessandra Prentice
Some wear black balaclavas and grubby army fatigues, others wield spiked iron clubs, all united in a common goal to protect Kiev in the power vacuum following the ouster of president Viktor Yanukovich.
This self-styled defence force also has designs beyond the capital.
In the months of anti-government protests that culminated in fatal gun battles and the fall of the president, a hard core of demonstrators has coalesced into units of about 100 men, forming the vanguard of the fight to bring down Yanukovich and recalibrate Ukraine towards Europe.
It was these groups, known as 'sotnyi', that took control of Yanukovich's offices after he fled the capital late on Friday.
Their men continue to patrol the streets, standing guard outside state buildings or marching two-by-two through the crowds on Kiev's Independence Square, widely known as Maidan and the crucible of an East-West tug-of-war over this country of 46 million.
On Institutska street, the site of some of the bloodiest fighting of last week's clashes, two flak-jacketed 'defenders of Maidan' controlled the entrance to Ukraine's Central Bank, a central pillar of its teetering economy.
"Kiev is still under threat," said one of them, who gave his name as Ruslan, a portly 43-year-old taxi driver from western Ukraine, the engine-room of Ukraine's pro-European movement.
"We have to stand here because the money for rebuilding all of this will be coming out of our pockets, via this bank," he said, clutching a wooden baseball bat.
Down the street, helmeted men in second-hand camouflage gear linked arms in a human barricade to stop curious passers-by from entering the presidential administration building.
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Ukraine calls for aid, says needs $35 billion in next two years
KIEV - Ukraine said on Monday it needed $35 billion (£21 billion) in foreign assistance over the next two years and appealed for urgent aid following the overthrow of its president.
The Finance Ministry said it had called for a donor's conference and needed the first aid in the next week or two.
Acting President Oleksander Turchinov, appointed after Viktor Yanukovich was stripped of his powers by parliament on Saturday, said on Sunday Ukraine was near default and the economy was falling into an abyss.
"Over the past two days, we have had consultations and meetings with the EU and U.S. ambassadors and other countries and financial institutions on the urgent delivery of macro-financial assistance for Ukraine," Acting Finance Minister Yuri Kolobov said in a statement.
He said the international donor conference should involve representatives of the European Union, the United States and the International Monetary Fund.
Ukraine faces state debt payments of around $6 billion in the remainder of this year.
In an address to the nation, Turchinov on Sunday spelled out the enormity of the task facing Ukraine's new leadership, and identified stabilising the economy as a priority.
"Against the background of global economic recovery, the Ukrainian economy is heading into the abyss and is in a pre-default state," he said.
"The task of the new government is to stop the country's slide into the abyss, to stabilize the exchange rate, guarantee the timely payment of salaries, pensions and stipends, and to regain the confidence of investors, promote the development of enterprises and the creation of new jobs."
The Ukrainian currency, the hyrvnia, fell about 2.4 percent against the U.S. dollar in early trading on Monday.
(Reporting By Pavel Polityuk, Editing by Timothy Heritage) -
U.S. gasoline rose almost 12 cents over two weeks
Feb 23 (Reuters) - The average price for a gallon of gasoline in the United States rose almost 12 cents over the past two weeks as violent crises in three areas of the world heightened concerns in the oil market.
A gallon of regular grade gasoline increased 11.67 cents to an average retail price of $3.41, according to the Lundberg survey released on Sunday. In the previous two-week period, the price had declined by less than two cents per gallon.
Developments in three global hot spots in Ukraine, Venezuela and South Sudan caused U.S. wholesale gasoline prices to "zoom up," said Trilby Lundberg, publisher of the survey.
She said she expects the rise in wholesale prices to add yet a few more pennies to the price at the pump.
Even with the latest increase, the current price is lower than a year ago, when the average price for a gallon of gasoline was $3.79.
The lowest price for a gallon of regular gas in the survey was found in Billings, Montana, where the average price was $3.08. The highest price, $3.82 per gallon, was found in San Diego.
(Reporting by Jennifer Saba in New York; Editing by Mohammad Zargham) -
U.S. wants Ukraine to remain unified, cautions Russia
ReutersWASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. officials insisted on Sunday that Ukraine should remain unified and cautioned that any military intervention by Russia would be a mistake after bloody street protests ousted -
World leaders react to Ukrainian crisis as Merkel and Putin talk on the phone
euronewsGerman Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin have talked on the phone in a call initiated by Angela Merkel. It’s reported the chancellor’s office said both… -
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Susan Rice: US backs Ukrainian people, cautions Russian involvement
theGrioNBC News - National Security Adviser Susan Rice said “the United States is on the side of the Ukrainian people” and wants to see democratic elections. -
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Documents at Ukraine Leader's Home Detail Spending
ABC NewsCash: $12 million. Decoration of a dining hall and tea room: $2.3 million. Statue of a wild boar: $115,000. "A bribe": $4,000. These are some of the expenses detailed in financial documents found in President Viktor Yanukovych's abandoned residence, which was occupied by protesters after... -
Europe readies Ukraine aid amid president's ouster.
European governments, reacting to fast-moving events in Ukraine and the ouster of its president, revived plans to offer a large aid package to the country—but insisted funds would come only with pledges of major economic overhauls. -
People light candles during a religious service at a church in Kiev February 23, 2014. Ukraine's new rulers, just 24 hours after ousting President Viktor Yanukovich, began speedily to unstitch his power structure on Sunday, appointing a provisional leader to replace him and sacking his key ministers. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili
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People attend a religious service at a church in Kiev February 23, 2014. Ukraine's new rulers, just 24 hours after ousting President Viktor Yanukovich, began speedily to unstitch his power structure on Sunday, appointing a provisional leader to replace him and sacking his key ministers. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili
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EU's Ashton to travel to Ukraine on Monday, will discuss economyBRUSSELS, Feb 23 (Reuters) - European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton will travel to Ukraine on Monday, where she is expected to discuss measures to shore up the ailing economy, the EU said on Sunday."In Kiev she is expected to meet key stakeholders and discuss the support of the European Union for a lasting solution to the political crisis and measures to stabilise the economic situation," an EU statement said.The EU has said it is prepared to offer economic support to Ukraine but it would be conditional on the country reaching an agreement with the International Monetary Fund.(Reporting by Adrian Croft; Editing by Philip Blenkinsop)
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Ukrainians stand in front of a sign with the picture
of Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko in Kiev's Independence
Square February 23, 2014. Ukraine's parliament, exercising power
since mass protests put the president to flight, on Sunday launched
criminal investigations into leading figures in Viktor Yanukovich's
ousted administration and named Oleksander Turchinov, a senior
opposition figure, as his temporary successor.REUTERS/Baz Ratner -
Will Putin Let Ukraine's Revolution Succeed?
NewsweekDriving the president out of Kiev was good, but the real battle for freedom is about to start in earnest -
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EU ready with substantial financial aid to Ukraine
ReutersSYDNEY, Feb 23 (Reuters) - The European Union is ready tooffer substantial financial aid to Ukraine once it has a newgovernment, and should offer a clear European perspective toKiev, the EU's Economic -
UK tells Russia: Don't intervene in Ukraine, let economy heal
ReutersLONDON (Reuters) - Britain warned Russia on Sunday against intervening in Ukraine's complex crisis, saying London wanted to contribute to an international economic program aimed at shoring up the desperately -
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Ukrainians gawp as Yanukovich's luxury estate is opened to public
ReutersNOVI PETRIVTSI, Ukraine (Reuters) - A sprawling forested estate of graceful waterways and summer houses - half the size of Monaco but just one hour's drive from Kiev - stands as a symbol of the folly of -
"Look how he lived, son of a bitch." My tour of the Mezhyhirya residence
bigstory.ap.org/article/ukrain…by Maria Danilova via twitter 2/22/2014 10:59:54 PM -
UPDATE: A few thousand rioters are trying to take down #Lenin statue in #Kharkov , eastern #Ukraine on.rt.com/xhz2zuby RT via twitter 2/22/2014 10:47:26 PM
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by Katya Gorchinskaya via twitter 2/22/2014 10:36:07 PM
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My prediction: Tymoshenko gets elected, and ends up much like Aristide newrepublic.com/article/116720…by felix salmon via twitter 2/22/2014 10:22:36 PM
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A woman holds a candle at a rally as anti-government protesters wait for opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko at the Independence Square in Kiev February 22, 2014. REUTERS/Yannis Behrakis
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The New Republic: These Factors Will Determine What Happens Next
By Julia Ioffe
East and West: There is a huge element of anti-colonialism in this revolt. Most of the crowd in the Maidan speaks Ukrainian and the tents are marked with the names of cities of the Ukrainian-speaking West. For at least the last century, speaking Ukrainian was an inherently political act, one that showed one's cultural and spiritual independence from Russian political and linguistic dominance. (This is in part why Tymoshenko, who had to learn the language, now speaks exclusively in Ukrainian in public.) The Russian-speaking east of the country doesn't share this sense of oppression. They feel closer to Russia, and don't mind the Russian embrace. They also have most of the country's industry. For the last week, there has been talk of the country splitting, or, worse, civil war. While I think civil war is highly unlikely, the East-West divide is going to be one to watch: will the Russian-speaking East go along with the change, or not?
The Crimea: The home of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, the Crimean peninsula has long been a subject of contention between Ukraine and Russia, with the latter deliberating whether it should have been kept by the Russian Federation in the 1991 split. Russia has been fanning those fires, handing out Russian passports to local residents, and there are reports that pro-Russian separatism is on the rise. And, given the number of Russian speakers in the area, these tensions could escalate. Watch, for example these Russians yelling at local activists who tried to set up their own Maidan in the Crimean city of Kerchi.
Russia: What will Russia do? Sending in troops is highly unlikely, unless they feel the need to "rescue" Russian citizens in a restive Crimea—much like they did with Ossetians and Abkhazians during the 2008 Russian-Georgian War. There are also economic measures Russia could take to give force to its rather vocal displeasure. Yesterday, it already froze the second tranche of a promised loan to Ukraine. Now that its ally Yanukovich is gone, it's unlikely that tranche will ever get unfrozen. Before Yanukovich, when Ukraine was ruled by a pro-Western coalition, Russia often cut off the flow of gas to the country in order to exert political pressure. This tool remains in the toolkit.
Europe: Tymoshenko is already saying that Ukraine will join the EU iminently. Will the EU let the economically troubled country in to reward it for its choice? Or will it continue to string Ukraine along, much as it's done for the last decade?
Tymoshenko: Tymoshenko has also declared that she will run in the country's newly announced presidential elections in May. Tymoshenko today is a newly freed political prisoner, but she is a rapacious and utterly, clumsily cynical politician with her own dark history of—and appetite for—corruption. Should she cruise to victory on this wave of revolutionary fervor, will she be any better than Yanukovich? As the outgoing prime minister, she ran against him in 2010, and lost, in part because Ukrainians had so tired of her take-no-prisoners approach to politics.
Demobilization: The so-called self-defense groups patrolling and ruling the Maidan these last few months are now highly organized groups of men who have tasted victory—and their own power. What do you do after you take up a baseball bat and topple a president? Go back to your day job? The new interim Interior Ministry head said he promised the groups posts inside the Ministry, but the devil will absolutely be in the details: there are a lot of these guys, and some of them really are extremists. Will there be room for all of them? If not, what will happen to the rest?
The nationalists: There is undeniably a faction of ultra-nationalists on the Maidan, and, when the violence started, they formed the core of the anti-government forces. They say they want to form a political party and run for parliament, but they too have tasted victory and blood: will a seat in the Rada be enough? -
Tymoshenko: "We must bring backstage politics to an end."by Christopher Miller via twitter 2/22/2014 8:01:08 PM
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Tymosehnko: "I am coming back to work. I won't waste a minute as to make sure you are happy on your own land. Glory to Ukraine!"by Christopher Miller via twitter 2/22/2014 7:58:16 PM
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by ian bremmer via twitter 2/22/2014 7:57:19 PM
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Tymoshenko: "I am asking you to forgive me for all politicians regardless of political parties, positions."by Christopher Miller via twitter 2/22/2014 7:52:52 PM
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Tymoshenko says Yanukovich should be forced to come to Independence Square where protests are taking place.
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Tymoshenko tells protesters they should keep up protests.
At least 18 protesters killed in Myanmar in worst violence since coup
Myanmar police fired on protesters around the country on Sunday and at least 18 people were killed in the worst violence since a Feb. 1 military coup, the United Nations said, calling on the international community to act to stop the repression.