Russia Objects to Ukraine's Plan to Crackdown on Protesters
Russia says Ukraine is on the brink of civil war Tuesday as Kyiv announced an "anti-terrorist operation'' against pro-Russian separatists, although according to reports, the crackdown got off to a slow start, if at all.
Twenty-four hours after an Ukrainian ultimatum expired for the separatists to lay down their arms, witnesses reported no signs yet that Kyiv forces were ready to storm state buildings in the Russian-speaking east that the rebels have occupied.
Police said separatists had voluntarily surrendered the police headquarters in the city of Kramatorsk.
Earlier, Ukraine's interim President Oleksander Turchynov told lawmakers "the anti-terrorist operation began during the night in the north of Donetsk region. But it will take place in stages, responsibly, in a considered way. I once again stress: the aim of these operations is to defend the citizens of Ukraine.''
Tuchynov accused Moscow of intentionally inflaming the situation in the east.
"Plans of the Russian Federation were and remain brutal," he said. "They want not only Donbas [Donetsk region] to be on fire. They want the whole south and east of Ukraine to be on fire - from Kharkiv region to Odessa region.''
Tensions over the crisis spilled into the streets of Kyiv on Tuesday when dozens of activists assaulted pro-Russian lawmaker Oleh Tsaryov outside a television studio. Tsaryov is a candidate in presidential elections to be held May 25.
Klitschko urges action
Opposition leader Vitaly Klitschko, who helped lead the protests that drove pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych from office, urged Turchynov to send Ukrainian armed forces to the region to drive out the separatists.
"Infiltrators and hired people are not the people of Ukraine. Our dialogue with them must be short," he insisted. "That's what people in Donbas, Lugansk, Kharkiv, who ask about protection, are expecting from us. People, who came to the parliament today and are standing there right now, demand mobilization to protect their state.''
No shots heard
But on Tuesday morning a Reuters correspondent in Slaviansk had heard no shots or explosions in the town, which lies about 150 km (90 miles) from the Russian border.
Outside the occupied local police headquarters about a dozen civilians manned barricades that have been built up overnight with more tires and wooden crates. A dozen or so armed Cossacks - paramilitary fighters descended from Tsarist-era patrolmen - stood guard at the mayor's offices. Shops were functioning as usual and bread supplies were normal.
"The night passed quickly, thank God. There have been lots of rumours of violence, but it's been very quiet here. We are in control,'' said one civilian on the barricades outside the police station, who gave his name only as Rustam.
Pro-Russian demonstrators fortified their positions late Monday and erected fresh barricades, despite the government warning.
Ukraine's security forces have been in some disarray since protesters ousted pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych in February. However, the delays to begin the crackdown may also reflect a desire by the interim leadership to avoid making things worse by causing civilian casualties.
Moscow denies involvement
Moscow denies claims of Russian agents' involvement in the protests as "speculations based on unreliable information.'' President Vladimir Putin said the protests vented public anger about the Ukrainian government's reluctance to recognize the interests of Russian speakers in the east.
Moscow accuses Kyiv of provoking the crisis by ignoring the rights of citizens who use Russian as their first language, and has promised to protect them from attack. It has also highlighted the presence of far-right nationalists among Kyiv's new rulers.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Moscow will withdraw from an emergency international summit scheduled for Thursday in Geneva if Kyiv uses force in eastern Ukraine.
"Ukraine is spreading lies that Russia is behind the actions in the southeast. This is a total lie that supposes that those residents there are completely incapable of protesting of their own will,'' Lavrov said on a visit to China.
Lavrov called on Kyiv to hold back before a meeting between Russia, the European Union, the United States, and Ukraine planned for Geneva on Thursday. "You can't send in tanks and at the same time hold talks,'' he said. "The use of force would sabotage the opportunity offered by the four-party negotiations in Geneva.''
Moscow says it wants constitutional change in Ukraine to give more powers to Russian-speaking areas, where most of the country's heavy industry lies, while the secessionists have demanded Crimean-style referendums in their regions.
Kyiv opposes anything that might lead to the dismemberment of the country. But in an attempt to undercut the rebels' demands, Turchynov has held out the prospect of a nationwide referendum on the future shape of the Ukrainian state.
Lavrov said Kyiv's apparent willingness to "resolve through negotiations all the problems relating to the legal demands of the inhabitants of the south-east regions of Ukraine, is certainly a step in the right direction, albeit very belated''.
NATO chief, Britain's Hague accuse Russia
Russia is deeply involved in the crisis in eastern Ukraine where pro-Moscow separatists have seized control of a number of government buildings, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Tuesday.
The frank remarks from the head of the western military alliance underline rising tensions with Moscow, which says it is not involved in the armed pro-Russian protests in eastern Ukraine. Asked if he had seen evidence of Russian involvement in events in eastern Ukraine, Rasmussen told reporters: "We never... comment on intelligence, but I think from what is visible, it is very clear that Russia's hand is deeply engaged in this." Relations between NATO and Russia have turned icy since Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea region last month.
NATO, accusing Russia of massing forces on Ukraine's border, also has suspended cooperation with Moscow. Rasmussen, in Luxembourg for talks with European Union defense ministers, called on Russia to "de-escalate the crisis,to pull back its troops from Ukraine's borders, to stop destabilizing the situation in Ukraine and make clear that it doesn't support the violent actions of pro-Russian separatists. Russia should stop being part of the problem and start being part of the solution."
Rasmussen said NATO was not discussing any military involvement in non-NATO member Ukraine and was focusing on strengthening the defenses of eastern European allies nervous about Russia's intentions. NATO ambassadors are expected on Wednesday to discuss options put forward by military planners for reinforcing the defenses of eastern allies through exercises and temporary deployments of planes and ships sent by other allies. In his talks with EU defense ministers, Rasmussen said he would call for stronger cooperation between NATO and the EU, proposing that the military rapid reaction forces that both organizations maintain should train and exercise together more often.
Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary William Hague will say on Tuesday in a speech in London that Russia has deliberately pushed Ukraine "to the brink" in recent days and increased the risk of violent confrontation there.
Hague's comments were released in advance by his office: "In recent days Russia has deliberately pushed Ukraine to the brink, and created a still greater risk of violent confrontation."
UN Human Rights report
However, a United Nations report on Tuesday cast doubt on whether Russian-speakers were seriously threatened, including those in Crimea who voted to join Russia after Moscow forces had already seized control of the Black Sea peninsula.
"Although there were some attacks against the ethnic Russian community, these were neither systematic nor widespread,'' a report by the U.N. human rights office said.
The report, issued after two visits to Ukraine last month by Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Simonovic, cited "misinformed reports'' and "greatly exaggerated stories of harassment of ethnic Russians by Ukrainian nationalist extremists''.
These, it said, "had been systematically used to create a climate of fear and insecurity that reflected on support to integration of Crimea into the Russian Federation.''
Obama, Putin phone call
U.S. President Barack Obama warned Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call Monday that Moscow will face further costs if its actions in Ukraine persist. He also urged the Russian leader to use his influence to persuade the demonstrators to leave the buildings they have seized.
"The president emphasized that all irregular forces in the country need to lay down their arms, and he urged President Putin to use his influence with these armed, pro-Russian groups to convince them to depart the buildings they have seized," the White House said in a statement.
In turn, Putin urged Obama to discourage the Ukrainian government from using force against protesters.
The Kremlin said it had requested the call. The White House said the call was frank and direct.
Emergency talks planned
Top diplomats from Russia, the United States, Ukraine and the European Union are to hold emergency talks on the crisis April 17 in Geneva. White House officials say U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will travel to Kyiv April 22.
Meanwhile, U.S. officials signed a $1 billion loan guarantee to Ukraine. U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said the agreement demonstrates the United States' unwavering commitment to a stable Ukraine. Ukrainian Finance Minister Oleksandr Shlapak said his country is wrapping up talks with the IMF on a comprehensive economic reform program.
CIA visit
A White House spokesman said U.S. Central Intelligence Agency director John Brennan was in the Ukrainian capital during the weekend, confirming reports in Russian media, but denying claims that the CIA encouraged Ukraine to use force on the separatists.
U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt told VOA's Russian service that his greatest fear for the region is that the conflict devolves into greater violence, which the United States does not want.
"You have people in cities across eastern Ukraine, some of them heavily armed with Russian weapons including state-of-the art sniper rifles, Russian inventory automatic machine guns with grenade launchers. These are not peaceful protesters, this is an armed force. And I think there is a real risk that their actions could precipitate greater violence and any bloodshed of course is something that the United States will oppose," said Pyatt.
Chatter intercepted
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) says it has intercepted what it claims is chatter between separatists in eastern Ukraine and their Russian commanders.
The SBU published a recording of several alleged intercepts with transcriptions on its YouTube channel.
"[The intercepts] confirm that the Russian Federation is conducting a large-scale military aggression in eastern Ukraine...," says a statement the SBU published on its website.
The statement adds that the operation is being implemented by elite units of the Russian Armed Forces.
The SBU says that the objective of these units is to "terrorize local citizens, to sabotage planned talks between Ukraine, the U.S, the EU and Russia, and to destroy Ukrainian law enforcement [structures].”
FUENTE. La Voz de América, http://www.voanews.com/content/prorussians-facing-deadline-to-disarm-in-eastern-ukraine/1892694.html
Twenty-four hours after an Ukrainian ultimatum expired for the separatists to lay down their arms, witnesses reported no signs yet that Kyiv forces were ready to storm state buildings in the Russian-speaking east that the rebels have occupied.
Police said separatists had voluntarily surrendered the police headquarters in the city of Kramatorsk.
Earlier, Ukraine's interim President Oleksander Turchynov told lawmakers "the anti-terrorist operation began during the night in the north of Donetsk region. But it will take place in stages, responsibly, in a considered way. I once again stress: the aim of these operations is to defend the citizens of Ukraine.''
Tuchynov accused Moscow of intentionally inflaming the situation in the east.
"Plans of the Russian Federation were and remain brutal," he said. "They want not only Donbas [Donetsk region] to be on fire. They want the whole south and east of Ukraine to be on fire - from Kharkiv region to Odessa region.''
Tensions over the crisis spilled into the streets of Kyiv on Tuesday when dozens of activists assaulted pro-Russian lawmaker Oleh Tsaryov outside a television studio. Tsaryov is a candidate in presidential elections to be held May 25.
Klitschko urges action
Opposition leader Vitaly Klitschko, who helped lead the protests that drove pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych from office, urged Turchynov to send Ukrainian armed forces to the region to drive out the separatists.
"Infiltrators and hired people are not the people of Ukraine. Our dialogue with them must be short," he insisted. "That's what people in Donbas, Lugansk, Kharkiv, who ask about protection, are expecting from us. People, who came to the parliament today and are standing there right now, demand mobilization to protect their state.''
No shots heard
But on Tuesday morning a Reuters correspondent in Slaviansk had heard no shots or explosions in the town, which lies about 150 km (90 miles) from the Russian border.
Outside the occupied local police headquarters about a dozen civilians manned barricades that have been built up overnight with more tires and wooden crates. A dozen or so armed Cossacks - paramilitary fighters descended from Tsarist-era patrolmen - stood guard at the mayor's offices. Shops were functioning as usual and bread supplies were normal.
"The night passed quickly, thank God. There have been lots of rumours of violence, but it's been very quiet here. We are in control,'' said one civilian on the barricades outside the police station, who gave his name only as Rustam.
Pro-Russian demonstrators fortified their positions late Monday and erected fresh barricades, despite the government warning.
Ukraine's security forces have been in some disarray since protesters ousted pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych in February. However, the delays to begin the crackdown may also reflect a desire by the interim leadership to avoid making things worse by causing civilian casualties.
Moscow denies involvement
Moscow denies claims of Russian agents' involvement in the protests as "speculations based on unreliable information.'' President Vladimir Putin said the protests vented public anger about the Ukrainian government's reluctance to recognize the interests of Russian speakers in the east.
Moscow accuses Kyiv of provoking the crisis by ignoring the rights of citizens who use Russian as their first language, and has promised to protect them from attack. It has also highlighted the presence of far-right nationalists among Kyiv's new rulers.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Moscow will withdraw from an emergency international summit scheduled for Thursday in Geneva if Kyiv uses force in eastern Ukraine.
"Ukraine is spreading lies that Russia is behind the actions in the southeast. This is a total lie that supposes that those residents there are completely incapable of protesting of their own will,'' Lavrov said on a visit to China.
Lavrov called on Kyiv to hold back before a meeting between Russia, the European Union, the United States, and Ukraine planned for Geneva on Thursday. "You can't send in tanks and at the same time hold talks,'' he said. "The use of force would sabotage the opportunity offered by the four-party negotiations in Geneva.''
Moscow says it wants constitutional change in Ukraine to give more powers to Russian-speaking areas, where most of the country's heavy industry lies, while the secessionists have demanded Crimean-style referendums in their regions.
Kyiv opposes anything that might lead to the dismemberment of the country. But in an attempt to undercut the rebels' demands, Turchynov has held out the prospect of a nationwide referendum on the future shape of the Ukrainian state.
Lavrov said Kyiv's apparent willingness to "resolve through negotiations all the problems relating to the legal demands of the inhabitants of the south-east regions of Ukraine, is certainly a step in the right direction, albeit very belated''.
NATO chief, Britain's Hague accuse Russia
Russia is deeply involved in the crisis in eastern Ukraine where pro-Moscow separatists have seized control of a number of government buildings, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Tuesday.
The frank remarks from the head of the western military alliance underline rising tensions with Moscow, which says it is not involved in the armed pro-Russian protests in eastern Ukraine. Asked if he had seen evidence of Russian involvement in events in eastern Ukraine, Rasmussen told reporters: "We never... comment on intelligence, but I think from what is visible, it is very clear that Russia's hand is deeply engaged in this." Relations between NATO and Russia have turned icy since Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea region last month.
NATO, accusing Russia of massing forces on Ukraine's border, also has suspended cooperation with Moscow. Rasmussen, in Luxembourg for talks with European Union defense ministers, called on Russia to "de-escalate the crisis,to pull back its troops from Ukraine's borders, to stop destabilizing the situation in Ukraine and make clear that it doesn't support the violent actions of pro-Russian separatists. Russia should stop being part of the problem and start being part of the solution."
Rasmussen said NATO was not discussing any military involvement in non-NATO member Ukraine and was focusing on strengthening the defenses of eastern European allies nervous about Russia's intentions. NATO ambassadors are expected on Wednesday to discuss options put forward by military planners for reinforcing the defenses of eastern allies through exercises and temporary deployments of planes and ships sent by other allies. In his talks with EU defense ministers, Rasmussen said he would call for stronger cooperation between NATO and the EU, proposing that the military rapid reaction forces that both organizations maintain should train and exercise together more often.
Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary William Hague will say on Tuesday in a speech in London that Russia has deliberately pushed Ukraine "to the brink" in recent days and increased the risk of violent confrontation there.
Hague's comments were released in advance by his office: "In recent days Russia has deliberately pushed Ukraine to the brink, and created a still greater risk of violent confrontation."
UN Human Rights report
However, a United Nations report on Tuesday cast doubt on whether Russian-speakers were seriously threatened, including those in Crimea who voted to join Russia after Moscow forces had already seized control of the Black Sea peninsula.
"Although there were some attacks against the ethnic Russian community, these were neither systematic nor widespread,'' a report by the U.N. human rights office said.
The report, issued after two visits to Ukraine last month by Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Simonovic, cited "misinformed reports'' and "greatly exaggerated stories of harassment of ethnic Russians by Ukrainian nationalist extremists''.
These, it said, "had been systematically used to create a climate of fear and insecurity that reflected on support to integration of Crimea into the Russian Federation.''
Obama, Putin phone call
U.S. President Barack Obama warned Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call Monday that Moscow will face further costs if its actions in Ukraine persist. He also urged the Russian leader to use his influence to persuade the demonstrators to leave the buildings they have seized.
"The president emphasized that all irregular forces in the country need to lay down their arms, and he urged President Putin to use his influence with these armed, pro-Russian groups to convince them to depart the buildings they have seized," the White House said in a statement.
In turn, Putin urged Obama to discourage the Ukrainian government from using force against protesters.
The Kremlin said it had requested the call. The White House said the call was frank and direct.
Emergency talks planned
Top diplomats from Russia, the United States, Ukraine and the European Union are to hold emergency talks on the crisis April 17 in Geneva. White House officials say U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will travel to Kyiv April 22.
Meanwhile, U.S. officials signed a $1 billion loan guarantee to Ukraine. U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said the agreement demonstrates the United States' unwavering commitment to a stable Ukraine. Ukrainian Finance Minister Oleksandr Shlapak said his country is wrapping up talks with the IMF on a comprehensive economic reform program.
CIA visit
A White House spokesman said U.S. Central Intelligence Agency director John Brennan was in the Ukrainian capital during the weekend, confirming reports in Russian media, but denying claims that the CIA encouraged Ukraine to use force on the separatists.
U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt told VOA's Russian service that his greatest fear for the region is that the conflict devolves into greater violence, which the United States does not want.
"You have people in cities across eastern Ukraine, some of them heavily armed with Russian weapons including state-of-the art sniper rifles, Russian inventory automatic machine guns with grenade launchers. These are not peaceful protesters, this is an armed force. And I think there is a real risk that their actions could precipitate greater violence and any bloodshed of course is something that the United States will oppose," said Pyatt.
Chatter intercepted
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) says it has intercepted what it claims is chatter between separatists in eastern Ukraine and their Russian commanders.
The SBU published a recording of several alleged intercepts with transcriptions on its YouTube channel.
"[The intercepts] confirm that the Russian Federation is conducting a large-scale military aggression in eastern Ukraine...," says a statement the SBU published on its website.
The statement adds that the operation is being implemented by elite units of the Russian Armed Forces.
The SBU says that the objective of these units is to "terrorize local citizens, to sabotage planned talks between Ukraine, the U.S, the EU and Russia, and to destroy Ukrainian law enforcement [structures].”
FUENTE. La Voz de América, http://www.voanews.com/content/prorussians-facing-deadline-to-disarm-in-eastern-ukraine/1892694.html
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