Ukraine says ready for new talks if Russia backs elections

[dipsydoodle]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - Ukraine is ready to back a new round of talks in Geneva in a bid to de-escalate a political crisis with Russia as long as Moscow supports presidential elections on May 25, Ukrainian Acting Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsia said on Tuesday.

"If Russia is ready to commit itself to support these elections and to eliminate this threat and eliminate its support for the extremist elements in Ukraine, we are ready to have such a round of meetings," he told a news conference after a Council of Europe meeting in Vienna on the crisis in Ukraine.

Deshchytsia said his government could support another round of Geneva talks if all the parties agreed to implement any document that would be agreed there. "But ... the priority for Ukraine is to hold the presidential elections."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier in Vienna it would be "unusual" to hold a presidential election in Ukraine while the government was deploying the army against some of its people.

Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/05/06/uk-ukraine-crisis-idUKKBN0DL11J20140506

---

In what may well be associated news :

Central Election Commission dismisses registration of presidential candidates Oleh Tsariov and Natalia Korolevska

Central Election Commission (CEC) has canceled the registration of presidential candidates lawmaker Oleh Tsariov (Party of Regions faction) and former social policy minister, Natalia Korolevska. This decision was made on the basis of the personal applications of the aforementioned candidates.

http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/central-election-commission-dismisses-registration-of-presidential-candidates-oleh-tsariov-and-natalia-korolevska-346542.html


Regionals follow Communists by walking out of Rada session.
Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada is holding its closed-doors session on May 6 afternoon without Party of Regions members, the faction leader, Mykhailo Chechetov, told reporters.
http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/imf-ukraine-may-need-bigger-bailout-due-to-political-risks-346548.html

Party of Regions has most support in east and south east Ukraine.

[newthinking]

1. They would not let potential candidates run?

Last edited Wed May 7, 2014, 02:04 AM - Edit history (1)

Yes, real fair election it would be after they threatened much of the party, burned down their buildings, etc. Beat and threatened the leading candidate of Regions until he quit in fear.
There is no way that there was enough time to rebuild representation (party structure) even without beating and turning down candidates.

[newthinking]

2. OK - I researched it - Correction - It get' translated awkwardly. The applications were "dismissed"

but the candidates left the race, they were not refused (because the east is boycotting the vote now apparently, because they feel it will not be a fair election). I did not recognize the names as the folks that had previously stepped down.

[joshcryer]

3. No one is being prevented from running.

There are a whole host of people who are running. The Part of Regions in particular is having their own shakeup because they know if they want to remain relevant in post-Maidan Ukraine they need to take the democratic vote seriously.

[newthinking]

4. It is a setup. To be fair they would need to call off the goons (Right Sector) who keep beating

candidates and move the election back a couple of months (so that the opposition parties can regroup after they were severely threatened, buildings destroyed, etc.
Come on be honest now....

[joshcryer]

5. Any Party of Regions executed and bodies thrown in rivers?

Because that's what happened to some Ukrainian politicians.

[newthinking]

6. Your kidding right? Much of it doesn't make our prejudiced news. There are video's out there that

are chilling. Right Sector went on a rampage, particularly in the months leading to the overthrow, and right after it they took advantage of the anarchy.

Unfortunately, the overthrow has radicalized the country out of fear and indeed there have been nasty things occurring on both sides since.

[joshcryer]

7. Link?

I've seen the abuse videos of them hitting that one guy, but I don't know of any executions. I wouldn't be surprised if there were a couple, but executions, torture, disappearances (hundreds unaccounted for) are all pro-Russian tactics.

Unsurprising given that that's Putin's United Russia tactic from the get go.

[newthinking]

8. Here is one of the more recent (warning, graphic and mature)

You asked for it. You can search liveleak where a lot of the "less convenient", and unfortunately violent, information gets posted (because it is not pulled off).
This was also filmed and they are looking for the right sector member that did this. Here screams were heard outside the window on the third floor for minutes and then the right sector member takes the Ukrainian flag to the window in "victory".
They are looking for the person who did it which is why they posted these graphic videos. But you sure don't hear this stuff on our media now do you?
If you are really interested to learn it is out there if you are really interested to find out.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=130_1399426212


WANTED WOMAN MURDER

Please help to identify the person pictured. This killer from "Right Secotr" who strangled with wire from the phone pregnant woman in the House of Trade Unions, in Odessa 05.02.2014.


in the video below, heard a woman scream moment, during the murder.
-------------
I can't get the images to show (which is maybe a good thing), you will have to go to the link to see it.

[Bosonic]

9. Odessa forensic teams say there was no pregnant women among Friday's dead

Odessa forensic teams say there was no pregnant women among Friday's dead (meaning horrific photo probably a fake)

https://twitter.com/howardamos/status/463712236390084608

[newthinking]

10. I don't have time to research further right now

I don't necessarily take official reports at their word, since the administration freely replaces staff with activists (they are basically reinforcing their military and police with activists because the police and many in the military don't like the regime and stand down. Which in itself says a lot. And they are heavily enforcing their order on the media (Svoboda) and propagandizing.

There is plenty of information and reports from reputable sources on Right Sector making terror. Much of it has been posted here including videos of Right Sector "enforcing order". It just blows me away that people want to make it sound like they don't and instead want to make it sound like all the violence is happening on "the other guys" watch. Cognitive dissonance is very prevalent.

[Bosonic]

11. Complete bullshit is quite prevalent as well

An example:

This video was star of the outrage circuit for a while:

OMG! Horrific Ukrainian troops!

Then sometime later, it was discovered that it was Russian troops in Dagestan, dealing with separatists the Russian way. Suddenly outrage evaporates; let's just move on please; look a squirrel!

This video now identified as not from Ukraine but Dagestan - full retraction of that

https://twitter.com/GrahamWP_UK/status/463242808032493568

[newthinking]

16. Accidently deleted the wrong post. It's late

My point before I head to bed is that so was the picture of supposed "Russian commander" that was spoofed and the "Jewish registry", and on and on. Interestingly only the fakes that are pro-maidan tend to end up in our media.

[bemildred]

12. Ukraine pro-Russian group says 5 activists killed in Mariupol clashes

Mariupol, Ukraine (CNN) -- Five pro-Russian activists were killed overnight when Ukrainian forces attacked barricades on the outskirts of Ukraine's southeastern city of Mariupol, a spokeswoman for the pro-Russian camp said Wednesday.

Fifteen other activists were detained by Ukrainian forces, Irina Voropaeva said.

The violence comes amid an escalation of tensions as Ukrainian forces seek to regain control of some of the administrative buildings seized by pro-Russian separatists in a swath of the country's south and east.
Photos: Crisis in Ukraine Photos: Crisis in Ukraine

The activists briefly abandoned the Mariupol City Council building, according to Voropaeva.

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/05/07/world/europe/ukraine-crisis/index.html

[dipsydoodle]

18. Whilst near Slavyansk

Pravda: Ukraine sends 20 tanks and 30 APCs to break resistance in Slavyansk

Combat actions in the town of Slavyansk in the south-east of Ukraine continued at night of May 6. At nightfall, the Ukrainian troops launched an attack on the positions of self-defense forces. Two powerful explosions were heard on the outskirts of the city. It was also said that Kiev had sent Grad rocket launchers to the site of the operation.

New units of Ukrainian forces arrived near Slavyansk for the punitive operation against the civilians, who do not agree to live under illegitimate Kiev authorities. In particular, 20 tanks and 30 armored vehicles of various modifications were delivered to Lozovaya railway station. The column moved in the direction of Slavyansk and stopped 20 kilometers from the city.

Prior to that, the Ukrainian military tried to take the village of Semyonovka, a suburb of Slavyansk. Bloody battles continued in the village for two days.

>

Civilians still remain blocked in Slavyansk. They could not leave the town as a humanitarian corridor had not been provided for them. Self-defense fighters still control the town. Nothing has been reported about victims of most recent actions.

http://english.pravda.ru/news/hotspots/07-05-2014/127522-ukraine_slavyansk-0/ link found on Kiev Post.

[bemildred]

19. As Ukrainian Election Looms, Western Powers and Russia Campaign for Influence

KIEV, Ukraine — Russia and the West maneuvered on Tuesday ahead of a seemingly inevitable clash over Ukraine’s plan to hold a presidential election on May 25 that Western powers view as crucial to restoring stability and that the Kremlin says will be illegitimate, particularly if the government in Kiev cannot first stabilize the country.

Senior Russian officials have repeatedly referred to the provisional government in Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, as an illegitimate “junta.” From their perspective, allowing an election to go forward when no pro-Russian candidate has a real chance of winning would seriously weaken the Kremlin’s influence in Ukraine. It could also help the West coax the country out of Moscow’s orbit.

Russia has made clear that it wants the election to be delayed. Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov pressed the point again on Tuesday, insisting that the interim government end bloodshed and amend the Constitution to devolve power to the regions — and that it do so before Ukrainians are asked to choose a new leader.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/07/world/europe/ukraine.html?_r=0

[dipsydoodle]

28. Ukraine crisis: Pro-Russians seize back Mariupol city hall

Pro-Russian separatists have seized back the city hall in the southern Ukrainian port of Mariupol, hours after being ousted by security forces.

Government forces first raised the Ukraine flag on the building but later left - allowing the rebels who captured it last week to be back in control.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27305245

[bemildred]

30. "Theatrical micro-militarism"

We have not merely Public Relations wars, but wars conducted primarily to achieve PR objectives.

[The Magistrate]

31. An Apt Phrase, Sir

Though the point of the exercise may have been the apprehensions mentioned in the article. If one is after particular people, the place where they were taken is not necessarily of much importance, and it may not be worth the trouble of holding.

[bemildred]

14. 'We're already not in Ukraine': rebel east readies secession vote

Behind the barricades of tyres and car bumpers, past the masked militants who hold Donetsk's filthy administration building, there is a man in a suit in a spotless office, working from an Apple iMac on a vote to dismember Ukraine.

Roman Lyagin, 33, head of this self-proclaimed republic's electoral commission, does not hide his distaste for the gunmen who seized control here a month ago, but he shares their aims.

"Every revolution accumulates its fair share of loons," he told Reuters. But, he said, "we simply cannot live any more within Ukraine. Ukraine has already de facto said goodbye to us."

If Kiev has not already lost its industrial east, it risks doing so on Sunday, when people in this steel and coal belt - many of them ethnic Russians or native Russian-speakers - vote in a 'Yes' or 'No' referendum on secession.

http://www.todayszaman.com/news-347111-were-already-not-in-ukraine-rebel-east-readies-secession-vote.html

[bemildred]

20. Ukraine crisis: 'Those fascists killed this girl and they will be in hell’'

Weeping mourners laid red roses beside the dead woman’s frozen face, as her open coffin was borne aloft through a silent crowd. Soon, hundreds more people had joined the funeral procession, causing the town of Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine to come to a halt in honour of Yulia Izotova, who was shot dead at the age of 21.

Her crime had been to carry trays of sandwiches to a checkpoint manned by the pro-Russian activists who now control this area. As she took her offering to the self-styled “defenders” of the “Donetsk People’s Republic” on Friday, Miss Izotova was shot in the street.

“For carrying food – for that, they killed her,” said one mourner, who was too overcome by emotion to give her name. “It was Pravy Sektor,” she added, referring to the Ukrainian nationalist militia that threw its weight behind the revolution in February. “Either that or it was the army of Ukraine. But it doesn’t matter because they are together – they are both the same. Those fascists killed this girl and they will be in hell,” she sobbed.

As Miss Izotova was laid to rest yesterday, her fate said much about the shadowy war now being waged in the rolling fields and hills of eastern Ukraine. Nobody can say for certain who killed her, the national army is spoken of in the same breath as radical extremists, the word “fascist” is used with abandon – and her funeral was the occasion for fear and anger as well as grief.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10809517/Ukraine-crisis-Those-fascists-killed-this-girl-and-they-will-be-in-hell.html

[Iterate]

17. SBU has evidence of Russia's involvement in preparation of 'referendum' in east Ukraine

Last edited Wed May 7, 2014, 10:28 AM - Edit history (1)

The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has received irrefutable evidence of the Russian side's preparing for and coordinating measures on the holding in the eastern regions of Ukraine of the so-called "referendum" on the creation of the "Donetsk People's Republic," with already known results, the SBU press center reported on Wednesday, May 7.
http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/sbu-has-evidence-of-russias-involvement-in-preparation-of-referendum-in-east-ukraine-346641.html

I don't know if this is the evidence they were referring to or not. Regardless, I think even a skeptic would have to admit its entertainment value.

On edit:
In the purported conversation, the leader of Orthodox Donbass, a group working with the separatists, discusses the need for Russian military support and that the Republic’s forces are not likely to withstand the ongoing fight with Ukrainian military by the May 11th referendum date, and that such a province-wide measure could not be held so long as Ukrainian forces remain in the region. In response, the voice said to be Barkashov insists that not cancellation or postponement can be allowed to take place, and that the results should be fabricated if need be. At first he suggests penning in a 99% vote in favor similar to the Crimean scenario, but then lowers the figure to a slightly less incredulous 89%. Barkashov then mentions that “everyone is keyed up, even [Chechen leader Ramzan] Kadyrov” and that he had written to Vladimir Putin concerning the events.

Recall that the Donetsk Republic’s self-described “people’s governor” Pavel Gubarev is a former member of the neo-Nazi paramilitary group, but this new evidence would suggest his ties to the group are still strong. Gubarev has remained separatist leader in absentia since his arrest on March 6th.
http://ukrainianpolicy.com/sbu-audio-links-donetsk-republic-to-russian-involvement/

It's subtitled, but I'll look for a transcript.

[bemildred]

21. In Ukraine's Corridors Of Power, An Effort To Toss Out The Old

The first time I saw the word "lustration," I thought it was a case of bad translation from Ukrainian. In Kiev, a flyer advertised a talk by the head of parliament's "lustration" committee.

"What does this word mean in English?" I asked a press aide.

"I don't know the English word for it, but it will be an interesting speech," he replied.

And indeed, it was.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2014/05/07/310098109/in-ukraine-s-corridors-of-power-out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new

[bemildred]

22. Tens of thousands of Ukrainians head to army recruitment offices as war with Russia looms

Tens of thousands of Ukrainians are flocking to army recruiting offices as their country prepares for a possible war with Russia.

In one office in the capital Kiev, Europe correspondent Philip Williams spoke to young recruits preparing to take up arms.

Igor Roman, 24, came to the army recruitment centre in Kiev because, as he sees it, the Russians are coming - and have to be defeated.
Igor Roman signs recruitment form Photo: Igor Roman, 24, signs a recruitment form in Kiev to join the Ukrainian army. (ABC)

"War has come to my home, to my street where I live with my mum and my dad, and I must protect them," he said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-07/ukrainians-flock-to-army-recruitment-agencies-as-war-looms/5437162

[bemildred]

23. Last-ditch diplomacy as Ukraine fighting spreads

MOSCOW: Western powers on Wednesday launched a desperate last-gasp drive for a diplomatic solution to stop Ukraine sliding into civil war, as fighting spread closer to the Russian border.

The head of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Swiss President Didier Burkhalter, was to meet Russian leader Vladimir Putin after Moscow quashed a German-led plan for new peace talks.

And Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague held talks in Kiev, as the Western-backed government there stepped up its military offensive to seize back a string of eastern towns and cities under the control of pro-Russian gunmen.

On the ground, local media reported that Ukrainian security forces had "liberated" the town hall in the port city of Mariupol near the Russian border.

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/International/2014/May-07/255584-last-ditch-diplomacy-as-ukraine-fighting-spreads.ashx

[bemildred]

24. Ukraine’s parliament urges gov’t to take on “pro-Russian separatists”

Ukrainian parliament has held a special close-door meeting in Kiev, to hear a report from security chiefs amid concerns that the violence could spread to the capital during the upcoming elections. The head of Ukrainian Security Service, Valentin Nalivaichenko, said after the meeting that "separatists" in Slavyansk have almost been eradicated.

He urged the interim government to cautiously press forward with its military offensive to tackle the "pro-Russian insurgency" in the southern port city of Odessa and in the eastern regions of Lugansk and Donetsk, which share borders with Russia.

Ukraine’s Acting Defense Minister, Mykhailo Koval, said government forces are trying their best to protect the people and bring about peace and stability.

"There are two counter-terrorism plans for us: one is to assemble all our armed forces, including fighter planes and helicopters, and to raze the city in one attack. The other way, which we are using now, is to surround the separatists, break them down, and stamp them out."

http://english.cntv.cn/2014/05/07/VIDE1399441921832195.shtml

[bemildred]

25. Poll: fourty percent of Ukrainians support talks with separatist protesters

Forty percent of Ukrainians stand for negotiations with the separatist protesters and 35% support the military crackdown, according to a poll conducted by the Rating sociological group and presented at a Wednesday press conference at Interfax-Ukraine.

http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/40-percent-of-ukrainians-support-talks-with-separatist-protesters-346694.html

[The Magistrate]

26. A Tighter Breakdown Of That Would Be Interesting To See, Sir

By locale particularly.

A preference for negotiation is likely a proxy for wanting things to be peaceable, which is the natural preference....

[dipsydoodle]

27. Can't get that page on the link ?

This works though : http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/40-percent-of-ukrainians-support-talks-with-separatist-protesters-346694.html

[bemildred]

29. Yes, it seems to be gone now.

I'll try putting yours up there.

[bemildred]

32. How Putin Is Reinventing Warfare

The Kremlin, according to Barack Obama, is stuck in the "old ways," trapped in Cold War or even 19th century mindsets. But look closer at the Kremlin's actions during the crisis in Ukraine and you begin to see a very 21st century mentality, manipulating transnational financial interconnections, spinning global media, and reconfiguring geo-political alliances. Could it be that the West is the one caught up in the "old ways," while the Kremlin is the geopolitical avant-garde, informed by a dark, subversive reading of globalization?

The Kremlin's approach might be called "non-linear war," a term used in a short story written by one of Putin's closest political advisors, Vladislav Surkov, which was published under his pseudonym, Nathan Dubovitsky, just a few days before the annexation of Crimea. Surkov is credited with inventing the system of "managed democracy" that has dominated Russia in the 21st century, and his new portfolio focuses on foreign policy. This time, he sets his new story in a dystopian future, after the "fifth world war."

Surkov writes: "It was the first non-linear war. In the primitive wars of the 19th and 20th centuries it was common for just two sides to fight. Two countries, two blocks of allies. Now four coalitions collided. Not two against two, or three against one. All against all."

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/05/05/how_putin_is_reinventing_warfare

[bemildred]

33. Fresh fighting reported in eastern Ukraine

Fighting broke out in eastern Ukraine on Wednesday as pro-Russian insurgents from Sloviansk attacked government forces surrounding the rebel-held city.

A rebel representative in Sloviansk told the Russian Interfax news agency that the fighting was concentrated around a television tower in the southern suburb of Andreyevka. “We are taking the checkpoints back under our control,” he said.

There was no immediate information on casualties, nor did the Ukrainian government comment on the reports.

Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, who has been coordinating the operation in the region, said on Monday that the television tower had been retaken and was broadcasting Ukrainian channels.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/world/fresh-fighting-reported-in-eastern-ukraine/article5985867.ece?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS_Syndication

[bemildred]

34. Ukrainian Troops Fire Mortars at Slaviansk Roadblocks

MOSCOW, May 7 (RIA Novosti) – Checkpoints held by protesters around Ukraine’s restive eastern city of Slaviansk came under mortar fire Wednesday as the Kiev regime’s army launched an onslaught against the federalist stronghold, a spokesman for the city’s self-defense forces told RIA Novosti.

“The Andreevsky roadblock … is currently under mortar fire,” the spokesman said, adding there was not yet any information on the number of casualties.

The attack broke a lull in fighting since the morning.

A correspondent with RIA Novosti earlier visited a roadblock manned by self-defense forces and said the military had been letting small groups of civilians out of the besieged city after checking if they were carrying weapons.

http://en.ria.ru/world/20140507/189646271/Ukrainian-Troops-Fire-Mortars-at-Slaviansk-Roadblocks.html

[bemildred]

35. Russia's aggression is uniting Ukraine against it

Arriving in Kiev with William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, it is hard to imagine that we are in a country that is at the centre of the worst global security crisis of the 21st century. The sun is shining, and apart from the strange sight of cars driving around the city centre waving the EU flag, life appears to be proceeding very much as normal in the bustling Ukrainian capital.

It is only when we venture into various government ministries that the true extent of the challenge Ukraine faces from its belligerent Russian neighbour becomes clear. In a series of meetings today with political and security officials, Mr Hague has been given a detailed breakdown on the actions being undertaken by Moscow and its pro-Russian allies in Ukraine to destabilise Ukraine.

After the carefully-orchestrated operation the Kremlin instigated to occupy and annex Crimea in March, Ukrainian security officials concede that they would be no match for Russia's superior military firepower in a conventional confrontation. But the Ukrainian authorities are nevertheless giving some serious thought as to how they can contain the Russian-instigated violence in the east of the country without provoking a direct conflict with Moscow.

By sealing off those areas that have been overrun by pro-Russian activists, they hope to prevent the contagion from spreading to other parts of the country. And once that has been achieved, they are happy to leave it to the likes of Mr Hague to spearhead the international effort to persuade Moscow that its wilful disregard for international law will not be tolerated.

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/concoughlin/100270441/russias-aggression-is-uniting-ukraine-against-it/

[bemildred]

36. Fighting in eastern Ukraine likely to continue over coming days and pro-separatist unrest likely to

Since 2 May, more than 100 people have died in fighting between Ukraine's security forces, nationalist demonstrators, and pro-Russian separatists.

On 2 May 2014, at least 46 people died and more than 200 were wounded in fighting between radical nationalists and pro-Russian protesters in the city of Odessa, southern Ukraine. Local police withdrew from the violence. The majority of the deaths occurred when a building occupied by pro-Russian supporters burnt down.

http://www.janes.com/article/37518/fighting-in-eastern-ukraine-likely-to-continue-over-coming-days-and-pro-separatist-unrest-likely-to-spread

[bemildred]

37. Ukraine candidate ready to speak 'language of force' to pacify east

BERLIN - A leading contender in Ukraine's upcoming presidential election says some pro-Russian insurgents in the east of the country only understand "the language of force."

Billionaire chocolate magnate Petro Poroshenko said Wednesday, on a trip to Berlin where he was to meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel, that restoring law and order in the east is a priority and he wants to see economic conditions in the heavily Russian-speaking region improved.

But he says there must be "zero tolerance" for armed separatists who have seized several towns and engaged fought with government forces.

http://www.canada.com/news/world/Ukraine+candidate+ready+speak+language+force+pacify+east/9814546/story.html

[bemildred]

38. Russia Media: Putin Says May 11 Referendum on Autonomy in Southeast Ukraine Should Be Delayed

That's all there is now.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/russia-media-putin-11-referendum-autonomy-southeast-ukraine-23620711

[bemildred]

39. Putin says Russia wants the swiftest possible resolution of Ukraine crisis

Interests of all Ukrainians must be taken into account

Positions of Russia and OSCE on a solution coincide to a substantial degree

Calls on separatists in Eastern Ukraine to postpone referendum planned for May 11

Direct dialogue between Kiev and SE Ukraine separatists key to ending crisis

Blames interim government for causing “most unfavourable” scenario

http://www.forexlive.com/blog/2014/05/07/putin-says-russia-wants-the-swiftest-possible-resolution-of-ukraine-crisis/

[bemildred]

40. Putin urges delay for east Ukraine’s secession referendums

Russian President Vladimir Putin says a planned May 11 referendum on autonomy in southeast Ukraine should be postponed.

In a Wednesday meeting with Swiss president Didier Burkhalter, Putin also called on Ukraine’s military to halt all operations against pro-Russia activists who have seized government buildings and police stations across at least a dozen towns in eastern Ukraine.

Putin also said the upcoming presidential elections in Ukraine – slated for May 25 – are a move “in the right direction,” but repeated that constitutional reforms would have to precede any nationwide vote in Ukraine.

The RTS index of Russian stocks rose nearly 6 per cent on the day on Wednesday after Putin's call to postpone the referendums.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/ukraine/article18505621/

[bemildred]

41. Russian troops 'withdrawn from Ukraine border'

http://www.itv.com/news/update/2014-05-07/russian-troops-withdrawn-from-ukraine-border/

[The Magistrate]

42. If Confirmed, Sir, That Would Be a Most Positive Development

[bemildred]

43. Not quite yet. nt

[bemildred]

45. Only one other one, Daily Star, Lebanon, no more info. nt

[The Magistrate]

46. Satellite Surveilance Will Tell The Tale, Sir

I do not expect solid information to emerge quickly in situations like this. I doubt you do either. Remember when you bought a newspaper in the morning and then another in the afternoon?

[bemildred]

47. Putin says Russia has withdrawn forces from Ukraine border - Interfax

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/07/ukraine-crisis-russia-military-idUSL6N0NT50I20140507?rpc=401&feedType=RSS&feedName=bondsNews&rpc=401

[bemildred]

44. Pro-Russians in Ukraine's Donetsk to discuss Putin's call on referendum

DONETSK, Ukraine (Reuters) - Pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region said on Wednesday they would consider Russian President Vladimir Putin's call to postpone a regional referendum on independence at a meeting of their assembly tomorrow.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/nationworld/sns-rt-us-ukraine-crisis-putin-rebels-20140507,0,7553870.story

[bemildred]

48. Putin backs Merkel's proposal on roundtable meeting on Ukraine

Russia backs the proposal made by German Chancellor Angela Merkel to establish direct dialogue between the current Kyiv administration and representatives of the southeastern regions of Ukraine by holding a roundtable meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/putin-backs-merkels-proposal-on-roundtable-meeting-on-ukraine-346747.html