LIVE: Ukraine crisis: diplomatic push March 6, 2014 11:23 AMKey points- EU leaders prepare to hold an emergency summit to decide their response to Russias troop deployment in Crimea- The Brussels summit follows inconclusive high-level talks with Russia on Wednesday in Paris- There are signs of division over Ukraine, with Eastern European countries pressing for tough sanctions, but others - led by Germany - emphasising mediation- Pro-Russian forces remain in control of Crimea, where a tense stand-off continues with Ukrainian troops blockaded in their bases- All times GMTJoin the discussionSend an SMS to +44 7624800100LIVE TEXTBy Alastair Lawson, Alex Morrison and Kerry Alexandra10:31 Russian President Vladimir Putin is informed about a decision by the Crimean parliament asking him to allow the region to become part of Russia, the Kremlin is reported by AFP to have said.10:25 An opinion poll carried out in Russia over the weekend found 71% of Russians believe their country should protect the interests of ethnic Russians in Crimea more actively, Interfax news agency reports. The poll, by Russias Public Opinion Research Centre, found 17% think it is better not to clash with the Ukrainian authorities (BBC Monitoring).10:22 US State Department releases President Putins Fiction: 10 False Claims about Ukraine.10:17 Pro-Russian authorities in Crimea have asked Vladimir Putin to consider a request for the region to join the Russian Federation, which will be put to a referendum on March 16, AFP reports.10:15 Lindsey Hilsum of Channel 4 News tweets: Russian forces have left some Ukrainian bases in Crimea but destroyed equipment including aircraft in others.10:11 The parliament of Crimea has adopted a motion for Crimea to join Russia. It has asked the Russian president and parliament to consider this request, a member of the parliaments leadership, Grigoriy Ioffe, tells AFP.10:09 Crimeas parliament has unanimously voted in favour of becoming part of Russia, the RIA news agency quoted by Reuters says.10:08 The pro-Russian mayor of the Crimean port of Sevastopol says the city will not take part in the Ukrainian presidential election scheduled for 25 May, Interfax-Ukraine news agency reports. Alexei Chaly, elected to the newly created position of chairman of Sevatopols executive committee by a rally on 23 February, is quoted as saying: Sevastopol refuses to take part in the election imposed by the illegitimate authorities. (BBC Monitoring).10:05 John Kerry has arrived in Rome and had talks with the Italian, German and French foreign ministers and a top British official. The US secretary of state and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, are both in Italy for long-scheduled talks on the situation in Libya. The pair are expected to meet to discuss Ukraine later.10:04 While Russian troops (pictured) are still to be seen at Perevalnoye in Crimea, the situation at Simferopol is completely different on Thursday morning in comparison to Saturday, the BBCs Daniel Sandford in Crimea tweets. No Russian troops. We saw only two Black Sea Fleet trucks on road from Sevastopol.10:00 BBC Moscow correspondent Daniel Sandford in Crimea on his twitter account posts a picture of a Ukrainian marine (behind a wall) peering at Russian troops outside their Perevalnoye base.09:53 Arriving at the EU summit in Brussels, UK Prime Minister David Cameron says three key points must be addressed. He says Russia and Ukraine must open talks, the EU must show it will help the Ukrainian people in their hour of need and Russia must be sent a very clear message that its actions have been unacceptable and should have consequences.09:52 French President Francois Hollande says that pressure must be applied to de-escalate the situation in Ukraine and move towards mediation, Reuters reports.09:50 Russian sailors have sunk a decommissioned anti-submarine ship, the Ochakov, at the entrance to Lake Donuzlav in western Crimea to prevent Ukrainian navy ships gaining access to the Black Sea, the Ukrainian news agency Unian reports, quoting a military source in Sevastopol (BBC Monitoring).09:50 Ukrainian soldiers are still guarding the countrys military bases in Crimea, amid reports that some of the Russian and pro-Russian forces surrounding them have returned to their bases (see 08:37).09:49 The Russian central bank has put a Moscow subsidiary of Ukraines Privatbank under temporary administration, but is licence is not suspended, Reuters reports.09:45 Events have stripped Europes leaders of their illusions. They are gathering in Brussels for an emergency summit on Ukraine in a sombre mood, the BBC Gavin Hewitt says.09:42 Responding to Liz Wahls on-air resignation, Russia Today issues a statement saying: When a journalist disagrees with the editorial position of his or her organisation, the usual course of action is to address those grievances with the editor, and, if they cannot be resolved, to quit like a professional. But when someone makes a big public show of a personal decision, it is nothing more than a self-promotional stunt.09:41 Crimeas Vice Premier Rustam Temirgaliev says that a referendum on the regions status will take place on 16 March, RIA news agency quoted by Reuters says. It says that the referendum will ask people whether Crimea should remain part of Ukraine or join the Russian Federation.09:38 A referendum will ask whether Crimea should remain part of Ukraine or join Russia, Reuters reports the Crimean vice premier as saying.09:34 A US-based anchor on television channel Russia Today has resigned live on air in protest against Russias actions in Ukraine. During a broadcast, Liz Wahl said: Personally, I cannot be part of a network funded by the Russian government that whitewashes the actions of Putin.09:34 While loud voices normally very supportive of German Chancellor Angela Merkel have spoken out against sanctions on Russia over its actions in Ukraine, it should be said that some influential Germans are arguing that a failure to punish Russia would lead eventually to threats against former Soviet-satellite countries like Poland and the Baltic states who are now in the EU, the BBCs Stephen Evans in Berlin says.09:29 The association of German companies which does business with Russia has warned that a spiral of sanctions would turn into sustained damage to the European economy, with the possibility of companies being expropriated by the Russian authorities, the BBCs Stephen Evans in Berlin reports.09:26 Ukrainian police have regained control of regional government offices in Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, a day after militants entered and planted a Russian flag on the roof, AFP reports. A local police source tells the news agency people 75 were arrested in the assault on the building.09:25 The BBCs Stephen Evans in Berlin says that the strongest German statement against sanctions on Russia for its actions in Ukraine has come from an influential MP in the governing Christian Democrat party. Philipp Missfelder said that sanctions would be like cutting into our own flesh. The German economy and the preservation of jobs takes precedence, he said.09:22 BBC business editor Robert Peston asks: Is there a commercial solution to the crisis in Ukraine? He says one expert believes Russia could negotiate with Ukraine to agree a lease on Crimea.09:20 Kiev-based channel One Plus One TV reports that 12 Ukrainian coast guard ships have broken the Russian blockade of the eastern Crimean port of Kerch. The head of the coast guards tells the channel that if they had not moved the ships from Kerch, it is likely that they would have been destroyed (BBC Monitoring).09:17 The US will send six additional F-15 fighter jets to enhance Natos air patrols over the Baltic states, Lithuanian Defence Minister Juozas Olekas tells AFP.09:06 Ukraines Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk (left) is welcomed by European Council President Herman Van Rompuy ahead of a European leaders emergency summit.09:02 The US Congress is rushing to impose hard-hitting sanctions against Russia in response to its takeover of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula, hoping Europe will follow their lead, AP reports. It says that the American sanctions push represents a rare case of broad agreement among the Obama administration and Democrats and Republicans in both houses of Congress. But they are also united in their concern that American economic penalties will mean little without the participation of European countries with far deeper commercial relations with Russia.08:58 Speaking ahead of the EU meeting in Brussels, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk urges Russia to immediately to pull back its forces, Reuters reports. We ask Russia to respond, whether they are ready to preserve peace and stability in Europe, or they are ready to instigate other provocations and tensions, he says.08:57 Read the BBCs comprehensive background coverage of the Ukraine crisis here.08:54 The BBCs Mark Lowen tweets: Not so welcome at Sevastopol naval HQ. Still blockaded by locals and soldiers, despite reports to contrary.08:49 On the dock at Sevastopol, the BBCs Christian Fraser says officers on the Slavutych - the Ukrainian navys control and command ship - stood on the stern earlier and played the Ukrainian national anthem and saluted the countrys flag. He says the ship has been under blockade in the harbour for a week because the crew refuse to swear allegiance to Crimeas new pro-Russian authorities.08:46 BBC Moscow correspondent Daniel Sandford tweets: Not reassuring. Sergei Markov who often thinks how the Kremlin thinks, writes Why There Will Be War in Ukraine in the Moscow Times.08:42 A Ukrainian sailor guards the Ukrainian Navy ship the Slavutych blocked in the bay of Sevastopol08:37 The BBCs Christian Fraser, in Sevastopol, says there is a lower Russian presence this morning at some Ukrainian military bases in Crimea. He says it appears some Russian troops have returned to base, but it is too early to draw any conclusions from that.08:33 Former EU advisor Robert Cooper tells the BBC sanctions against Russia would be a two-edged sword as trade benefits both Russia and the EU. The most important thing the EU should now be doing is finding the right ways of supporting Ukraine, he says.08:31 As the military stand-off continues in Ukraine, sailors from the Ukrainian navy, based in Sevastopol, are being prevented from leaving their ships. The BBCs Daniel Sandford reports.08:29 Could a war between Russia and Ukraine start not in Crimea but in the east of the country? The BBCs Paul Wood reports.08:27 What is the right balance between moves to punish Russia and deter her from further aggression and those to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine and encourage dialogue? The BBCs Nick Robinson has this analysis.08:26 Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev says the government is discussing a new law to simplify procedures for Russian speakers to gain Russian citizenship, Reuters reports. This would apply to people who had lived in Russia or on territory that was once part of the Russian empire or the Soviet Union, the news agency says.08:26 Speaking from Brussels, where EU leaders are to begin an emergency summit, the BBCs Matthew Price says there is quite some disunity among European states. He says Poland and many eastern European countries want a firm line including sanctions against Russia, while some including Germany want to focus on diplomacy to bring down the tension.08:24 Welcome to the BBCs live coverage of the crisis in Ukraine as the focus shifts towards an EU meeting in Brussels.BBC © 2014
Posted on: Thu, 06 Mar 2014 10:38:45 +0000
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