Russia Agrees to Protect Ukraine's President
Russia has agreed to ensure the personal safety of Ukraine's ousted president Viktor Yanukovych, Russian news agencies quoted a source in the authorities as saying on Thursday.
"In connection with the appeal by president Yanukovych for his personal security to be guaranteed, I report that the request has been granted on the territory of the Russian Federation,'' the source was quoted as saying by Interfax news agency.
Yanukovych has said he still considers himself Ukraine's head of state and has asked Russia to ensure his personal safety.
The ousted leader released a statement to Russian news agencies on Thursday, from an undisclosed location. Yanukovych has not been seen in public since Saturday, when Ukraine's parliament voted to dismiss him and set early elections for May 25.
Anti-Yanukovich protesters gather outside the parliament building in Kyiv Feb. 27, 2014.
Earlier Thursday, Ukraine's acting president Oleksandr Turchnyov warned the Russian navy in Crimea not to leave its post, after gunmen seized government buildings in the regional capital.
Turchnyov said that any movement of Russian troops will be considered "military aggression." Russia's Black Sea fleet is based in the Crimean city of Sevastpol.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's acting interior minister Arsen Avakov said police are on high alert after the local government and legislature buildings were seized in the capital, Simferopol, by armed men in the pro-Russia region.
Reports indicate the the Russian flag was raised over the buildings. Acting interior minister Arsen Avakov said the occupied buildings have been sealed off by police.
The area has been the scene of confrontations between supporters of Ukraine's new government and pro-Russia activists. The region is mainly made up of Russian speakers who support Moscow but is also home to minority Muslim Tatars who are generally anti-Russia.
On Wednesday, Ukrainian interim leaders named popular opposition figure Arseniy Yatsenyuk as the country's new prime minister.
They announced Yatsenyuk's nomination before a large crowd Wednesday in Kyiv's Independence Square. Parliament is expected to consider his name Thursday.
Yatsenyuk is a pro-Western former foreign minister and economy minister. One of his first major jobs would be preventing the Ukrainian economy from collapse.
The White House says it strongly supports Ukrainian leaders as they work to form a multiparty government to represent all Ukrainians. It calls a broad-based government committed to reconciliation the necessary foundation for international aid.
Interim cabinet
The "Euromaidan" council made its announcement of Yatsenyuk, plus candidates for several other key ministers, after its members addressed crowds on Kyiv's Independence Square.
Oleksandr Turchynov, acting president since Yanukovych was toppled on Saturday by parliament, said the new government would have to take unpopular decisions to head off default, establish the trust of creditors and investors and guarantee a normal life for Ukraine's people.
The Euromaidan's proposals have to be approved by parliament.
US support
Secretary of State John Kerry says the U.S. is considering $1 billion in loan guarantees for Ukraine.
Kerry also warned Russia Wednesday that it would be a "grave mistake" to intervene militarily in Ukraine.
The White House responded to a Russian troop alert near Ukraine on Wednesday by urging “outside actors” in the region to respect Ukrainian sovereignty.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest, briefing reporters as President Barack Obama flew from Washington to Minnesota, said the United States strongly supports Ukraine leaders' efforts to form an inclusive, multi-party government.
"We urge outside actors in the region to respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, to end provocative rhetoric and actions, to support democratically established transitional governing structures and to use their influence in support of unity, peace and an inclusive path forward,” Earnest said.
Washington wants to “remind all governments of their political commitments to transparency about military activities” under international obligations designed to ensure peace and security in the Euro-Atlantic region, he said.
Russia flexes muscle
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered an urgent military drill in areas that include the region near the Ukrainian border.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the drill will check "readiness to deal with crisis situations that threaten the nation's military security."
The Kremlin did not superficially mention Ukraine. It has said it would not interfere in Ukraine's internal affairs. Moscow is a strong supporter of ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.
Ukraine is split between the pro-European west and the pro-Russian east and south.
“In accordance with an order from the president of the Russian Federation, forces of the Western Military District were put on alert at 1400 (1000 GMT) today,” Interfax quoted Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu as saying. The exercise reportedly involves 150,000 Russian combat troops
Putin has ordered several such surprise drills in various parts of Russia since he returned to the presidency in 2012, saying the military must be kept on its toes, but the geopolitical overtones could hardly have been clearer this time.
The western district borders Ukraine, which lies between NATO nations and Russia.
Putin has made no public comment on Ukraine since Yanukovych was driven from power over the weekend.
Shoigu was also quoted as saying that Russia is "carefully watching what is happening in Crimea, what is happening around the Black Sea Fleet."
Russia's Black Sea Naval Fleet is based on the Crimean coast on territory Moscow is leasing from Kyiv.
NATO chimes in
NATO defense ministers threw their support behind Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity on Wednesday as the ousting of Viktor Yanukovych has raised doubts about the country's future.
“A sovereign, independent and stable Ukraine, firmly committed to democracy and the rule of law, is key to Euro-Atlantic security,” the ministers said in a statement issued during their meeting in Brussels.
“NATO allies will continue to support Ukrainian sovereignty and independence, territorial integrity, democratic development, and the principle of inviolability of frontiers, as key factors of stability and security in central and eastern Europe and on the continent as a whole,” they said.
US financial help
The White House has sent financial experts to Ukraine to help its new leaders deal with the economic crisis, Interfax news agency quoted U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns as saying on Wednesday.
Burns was also quoted as saying that the team of experts would remain in Ukraine following his departure later on Wednesday.
Ukraine's interim leaders have also asked the International Monetary Fund to prepare a new financial aid program for the country.
Yanukovych on 'Wanted' list
Meanwhile, Ukraine's ousted president, Viktor Yanukovych, has been put on the international “Wanted” list, acting prosecutor-general Oleh Makhnytsky said on Wednesday.
Ukraine's new authorities say that Yanukovych, whose whereabouts are unknown, is wanted for 'mass murder' in connection with the shooting deaths of protesters during the crisis.
Yanukovych's offices and other buildings in Ukraine, including the national bank, were searched on Wednesday as part of an investigation against the ousted president for suspected premeditated murder, the prosecutor-general's office said.
In a statement on its website, the office said: “Within the framework of the criminal investigation ... searches have been carried out at the premises of the presidential administration, the national security and defense council, the national bank and the former residence of Yanukovych.”
Ukraine will also contact international organizations with an official request to help trace bank accounts and assets controlled by ousted president Yanukovych and his allies, the acting-prosecutor general said on Wednesday.
Accusing Yanukovych and his aides of stealing “not millions but billions” of dollars, Makhnytsky told Reuters in an interview that all major commercial deals concluded during his time in power would be reviewed.
“We will check everything: all the schemes of the ex-regime ... We are doing these checks because all the activity of the former regime was built on total corruption,” he said.
Some information for this report provided by Reuters
"In connection with the appeal by president Yanukovych for his personal security to be guaranteed, I report that the request has been granted on the territory of the Russian Federation,'' the source was quoted as saying by Interfax news agency.
Yanukovych has said he still considers himself Ukraine's head of state and has asked Russia to ensure his personal safety.
The ousted leader released a statement to Russian news agencies on Thursday, from an undisclosed location. Yanukovych has not been seen in public since Saturday, when Ukraine's parliament voted to dismiss him and set early elections for May 25.
Turchnyov said that any movement of Russian troops will be considered "military aggression." Russia's Black Sea fleet is based in the Crimean city of Sevastpol.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's acting interior minister Arsen Avakov said police are on high alert after the local government and legislature buildings were seized in the capital, Simferopol, by armed men in the pro-Russia region.
Reports indicate the the Russian flag was raised over the buildings. Acting interior minister Arsen Avakov said the occupied buildings have been sealed off by police.
The area has been the scene of confrontations between supporters of Ukraine's new government and pro-Russia activists. The region is mainly made up of Russian speakers who support Moscow but is also home to minority Muslim Tatars who are generally anti-Russia.
On Wednesday, Ukrainian interim leaders named popular opposition figure Arseniy Yatsenyuk as the country's new prime minister.
They announced Yatsenyuk's nomination before a large crowd Wednesday in Kyiv's Independence Square. Parliament is expected to consider his name Thursday.
Yatsenyuk is a pro-Western former foreign minister and economy minister. One of his first major jobs would be preventing the Ukrainian economy from collapse.
The White House says it strongly supports Ukrainian leaders as they work to form a multiparty government to represent all Ukrainians. It calls a broad-based government committed to reconciliation the necessary foundation for international aid.
Interim cabinet
The "Euromaidan" council made its announcement of Yatsenyuk, plus candidates for several other key ministers, after its members addressed crowds on Kyiv's Independence Square.
Oleksandr Turchynov, acting president since Yanukovych was toppled on Saturday by parliament, said the new government would have to take unpopular decisions to head off default, establish the trust of creditors and investors and guarantee a normal life for Ukraine's people.
The Euromaidan's proposals have to be approved by parliament.
US support
Secretary of State John Kerry says the U.S. is considering $1 billion in loan guarantees for Ukraine.
Kerry also warned Russia Wednesday that it would be a "grave mistake" to intervene militarily in Ukraine.
The White House responded to a Russian troop alert near Ukraine on Wednesday by urging “outside actors” in the region to respect Ukrainian sovereignty.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest, briefing reporters as President Barack Obama flew from Washington to Minnesota, said the United States strongly supports Ukraine leaders' efforts to form an inclusive, multi-party government.
"We urge outside actors in the region to respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, to end provocative rhetoric and actions, to support democratically established transitional governing structures and to use their influence in support of unity, peace and an inclusive path forward,” Earnest said.
Washington wants to “remind all governments of their political commitments to transparency about military activities” under international obligations designed to ensure peace and security in the Euro-Atlantic region, he said.
Russia flexes muscle
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered an urgent military drill in areas that include the region near the Ukrainian border.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the drill will check "readiness to deal with crisis situations that threaten the nation's military security."
The Kremlin did not superficially mention Ukraine. It has said it would not interfere in Ukraine's internal affairs. Moscow is a strong supporter of ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.
Ukraine is split between the pro-European west and the pro-Russian east and south.
“In accordance with an order from the president of the Russian Federation, forces of the Western Military District were put on alert at 1400 (1000 GMT) today,” Interfax quoted Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu as saying. The exercise reportedly involves 150,000 Russian combat troops
Putin has ordered several such surprise drills in various parts of Russia since he returned to the presidency in 2012, saying the military must be kept on its toes, but the geopolitical overtones could hardly have been clearer this time.
The western district borders Ukraine, which lies between NATO nations and Russia.
Putin has made no public comment on Ukraine since Yanukovych was driven from power over the weekend.
Shoigu was also quoted as saying that Russia is "carefully watching what is happening in Crimea, what is happening around the Black Sea Fleet."
Russia's Black Sea Naval Fleet is based on the Crimean coast on territory Moscow is leasing from Kyiv.
NATO chimes in
NATO defense ministers threw their support behind Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity on Wednesday as the ousting of Viktor Yanukovych has raised doubts about the country's future.
“A sovereign, independent and stable Ukraine, firmly committed to democracy and the rule of law, is key to Euro-Atlantic security,” the ministers said in a statement issued during their meeting in Brussels.
“NATO allies will continue to support Ukrainian sovereignty and independence, territorial integrity, democratic development, and the principle of inviolability of frontiers, as key factors of stability and security in central and eastern Europe and on the continent as a whole,” they said.
US financial help
The White House has sent financial experts to Ukraine to help its new leaders deal with the economic crisis, Interfax news agency quoted U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns as saying on Wednesday.
Burns was also quoted as saying that the team of experts would remain in Ukraine following his departure later on Wednesday.
Ukraine's interim leaders have also asked the International Monetary Fund to prepare a new financial aid program for the country.
Yanukovych on 'Wanted' list
Meanwhile, Ukraine's ousted president, Viktor Yanukovych, has been put on the international “Wanted” list, acting prosecutor-general Oleh Makhnytsky said on Wednesday.
Ukraine's new authorities say that Yanukovych, whose whereabouts are unknown, is wanted for 'mass murder' in connection with the shooting deaths of protesters during the crisis.
Yanukovych's offices and other buildings in Ukraine, including the national bank, were searched on Wednesday as part of an investigation against the ousted president for suspected premeditated murder, the prosecutor-general's office said.
In a statement on its website, the office said: “Within the framework of the criminal investigation ... searches have been carried out at the premises of the presidential administration, the national security and defense council, the national bank and the former residence of Yanukovych.”
Ukraine will also contact international organizations with an official request to help trace bank accounts and assets controlled by ousted president Yanukovych and his allies, the acting-prosecutor general said on Wednesday.
Accusing Yanukovych and his aides of stealing “not millions but billions” of dollars, Makhnytsky told Reuters in an interview that all major commercial deals concluded during his time in power would be reviewed.
“We will check everything: all the schemes of the ex-regime ... We are doing these checks because all the activity of the former regime was built on total corruption,” he said.
Some information for this report provided by Reuters
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