Thursday, February 27, 2014

NATO-Ukraine Commission stresses continued engagement, 27-Feb.-2014 | НАТО призывает Россию не допустить эскалации напряжения в Крыму, - Расмуссен | Ousted Ukrainian leader Viktor Yanukovych reported to be in Russia | Yanukovych Request for Protection in Russia Granted | Armed Men Seize Government Buildings in Crimea


27 Feb. 2014

NATO-Ukraine Commission stresses continued engagement

A meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission (NUC) on Thursday (27 February 2014) stressed the commitment of its members to the values of democracy and the rule of law. The meeting was a timely opportunity for Allies to discuss the momentous events in Ukraine.
NATO has a long-standing partnership with Ukraine. Today we made clear that NATO stands ready to support democratic development, defence reforms, military cooperation and democratic control over the security sector,” said NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.



RUSSIA and THE WEST - РОССИЯ и ЗАПАД: Nato - Russia News

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» НАТО не знает о планах военного вмешательства России в Украину - Последние новости в мире
27/02/14 09:24 from нато Россия - Google News
НТВ.ru НАТО не знает о планах военного вмешательства России в Украину Последние новости в мире Отвечая на вопрос, верит ли он словам русских, что эти учения не имеют ничего общего с событиями в Украине, генсек констатировал, что в НАТО н...
» Украина обратится в НАТО, если окажется, что в Крыму действует спецназ РФ, - Ярема - Цензор.Нет (Сатира)
27/02/14 08:21 from нато - Google News
СЕГОДНЯ Украина обратится в НАТО , если окажется, что в Крыму действует спецназ РФ, - Ярема Цензор.Нет (Сатира) Потому что если это российский спецназ, это уже агрессия иностранного государства, это уже будут обращение к НАТО . Это уже в...
» Глава НАТО призывает Россию не вмешиваться в ситуацию в Крыму - Росбалт.RU
27/02/14 07:58 from нато Россия - Google News
Глава НАТО призывает Россию не вмешиваться в ситуацию в Крыму Росбалт.RU mosgorsud.ru 27 февраля 2014 Крымчанин попросил не выдавать его Майдану Экс-депутат Верховного совета Крыма Василий Шпилькин в Москве ожидает решения суда об экстра...
» NATO Pressures Karzai To Sign Troop Pact With US - NPR
27/02/14 07:17 from nato - Google News
NATO Pressures Karzai To Sign Troop Pact With US NPR NATO Pressures Karzai To Sign Troop Pact With U.S.. by Sean Carberry. February 27, 2014 5:00 AM. Listen to the Story. Morning Edition. 3 min 52 sec. Playlist; Download. Without the dea...
» Russia and NATO to face off over Ukraine - Telegraph.co.uk
27/02/14 07:05 from Nato Russia - Google News
Telegraph.co.uk Russia and NATO to face off over Ukraine Telegraph.co.uk Tensions on the Crimean peninsular soared have after Vladimir Putin put the Russian army on high alert and Nato officials warned they would back the “inviolability ...
» NATO Secretary-General to Russia: Do Not 'Escalate Tension' - NBCNews.com
27/02/14 05:48 from Nato Russia - Google News
NATO Secretary-General to Russia : Do Not 'Escalate Tension' <a href="http://NBCNews.com" rel="nofollow">NBCNews.com</a> NATO Secretary-General to Russia : Do Not 'Escalate Tension'. By Alexander Smith. NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen warned Russia on Thur...
» US Endorses NATO MAP For Georgia - EurasiaNet
27/02/14 03:29 from nato - Google News
Trend.az US Endorses NATO MAP For Georgia EurasiaNet (photo: U.S. State Department). The U.S. State Department has endorsed granting Georgia its long-coveted status as an aspiring NATO member, the Membership Action Plan, on the heels of ...
» Россия напугала НАТО внезапной проверкой своей боеготовности - ИТ Новости
27/02/14 02:31 from нато Россия - Google News
ИТ Новости Россия напугала НАТО внезапной проверкой своей боеготовности ИТ Новости Брюссельская штаб-квартира НАТО подтвердила информацию о проведении российской стороной проверкой боеготовности своих вооруженных сил. Первыми отреагирова...
» Лаанеотс: Россия демонстрирует мускулы Украине и НАТО (110) - Postimees
27/02/14 02:15 from нато - Google News
Лаанеотс: Россия демонстрирует мускулы Украине и НАТО (110) Postimees Он считает, что вряд ли Россия планировала проверять военную боеготовность сразу после сочинской Олимпиады, но явно пришлось что-то переиграть и продемонстрировать сил...
» Ukraine part of US/NATO/EU plan to break up Russia - Scoop.co.nz
26/02/14 19:09 from Nato Russia - Google News
Ukraine part of US/ NATO /EU plan to break up Russia Scoop.co.nz The strategy in Ukraine is the same, US/ NATO /EU are promoting the destabilization and the breakup of Ukraine in order to achieve the NATO goal of moving into Ukrainian te...
» НАТО работает на два фронта - Коммерсантъ Приложения
26/02/14 18:57 from нато Россия - Google News
НАТО работает на два фронта Коммерсантъ Приложения Заседания же Совета Россия — НАТО , подобного тому, которое осенью посетил глава Минобороны РФ Сергей Шойгу (см. “Ъ” от 24 октября 2013 года), в этот раз было решено не проводить. По мне...
» Генсек НАТО рассчитывает, что Афганистан подпишет соглашение с США - РИА Новости
26/02/14 17:53 from нато - Google News
РИА Новости Генсек НАТО рассчитывает, что Афганистан подпишет соглашение с США РИА Новости БРЮССЕЛЬ, 27 фев — РИА Новости, Наталья Добровольская. Генсек НАТО Андерс Фог Расмуссен рассчитывает, что новый президент Афганистана подпишет дву...
» НАТО работает на два фронта - Mail.Ru
26/02/14 17:46 from нато - Google News
НАТО работает на два фронта Mail.Ru В Брюсселе вчера началось двухдневное заседание министров обороны стран НАТО . На повестке — ситуация на Украине и будущее Афганистана после вывода оттуда войск международной коалиции. Отношения с Росс...
» НАТО готов к полному выводу своих военнослужащих из Афганистана - РБК - RBC.Ru
26/02/14 17:12 from нато - Google News
НАТО готов к полному выводу своих военнослужащих из Афганистана РБК - RBC.Ru 27.02.2014, Брюссель 00:51:56 В ходе двухдневного совещания министров обороны стран-членов НАТО , начавшегося вчера в Брюсселе, было заявлено, что страны Альянс...
» Stable, independent Ukraine key to Europe security: NATO - Yahoo News
26/02/14 16:39 from nato - Google News
Yahoo News Stable, independent Ukraine key to Europe security: NATO Yahoo News Brussels (AFP) - A sovereign, independent and stable Ukraine is essential to security in Europe and beyond, NATO said Wednesday as tensions between pro- and a...
» Россия проинформировала НАТО о внезапной проверке боеготовности - Расмуссен - Тренд
26/02/14 16:13 from нато Россия - Google News
Россия проинформировала НАТО о внезапной проверке боеготовности - Расмуссен Тренд Россия проинформировала НАТО о решении провести внезапную проверку боеготовности Западного и Центрального военных округов, заявил генсек НАТО Андерс фог Ра...
» РФ проинформировала НАТО о проверке боеготовности, заявил Расмуссен - РИА Новости
26/02/14 16:04 from нато - Google News
РИА Новости РФ проинформировала НАТО о проверке боеготовности, заявил Расмуссен РИА Новости БРЮССЕЛЬ, 26 фев — РИА Новости, Владимир Добровольский. Россия проинформировала НАТО о решении провести внезапную проверку боеготовности Западног...
» Georgia's P.M. Irakli Garibashvili eyes NATO membership, while keeping Russia ... - Washington Times
26/02/14 15:46 from Nato Russia - Google News
Georgia's P.M. Irakli Garibashvili eyes NATO membership, while keeping Russia ... Washington Times Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili is determined to maintain his country's embrace of the West by boosting economic ties ...
» Расмуссен: РФ проинформировала НАТО о проверке боеготовности - Московский комсомолец
26/02/14 15:34 from нато Россия - Google News
Расмуссен: РФ проинформировала НАТО о проверке боеготовности Московский комсомолец Россия проинформировала НАТО о решении провести внезапную проверку боеготовности Западного и Центрального военных округов, заявил генсек НАТО Андерс фог Р...
» Россия проинформировала НАТО о внезапной проверке боеготовности - Росбалт.RU
26/02/14 15:15 from нато Россия - Google News
Россия проинформировала НАТО о внезапной проверке боеготовности Росбалт.RU 26 февраля 2014 О чем молчит Севастополь "Предательство со стороны России здесь чувствуют все, но стараются не артикулировать, — пишет автор из города русско...
» NATO puts pressure on Afghanistan to sign troop agreement - Los Angeles Times
26/02/14 14:07 from nato - Google News
NATO puts pressure on Afghanistan to sign troop agreement Los Angeles Times At the opening of a two-day NATO meeting, Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen warned that all alliance troops serving in Afghanistan would follow the U.S. in...
» НАТО обещает следить за неприкосновенностью границ Украины - УКРАИНСКАЯ ПРАВДА
26/02/14 13:33 from нато - Google News
Газета.Ru НАТО обещает следить за неприкосновенностью границ Украины УКРАИНСКАЯ ПРАВДА "Союзники Украины в НАТО будут продолжать поддерживать суверенитет и независимость Украины, ее территориальную целостность, демократическое разви...
» As Ukraine simmers, US nudges Georgia to integrate with EU, NATO and ... - Newser
26/02/14 13:10 from russia nato - Google News
InSerbia News As Ukraine simmers, US nudges Georgia to integrate with EU, NATO and ... Newser WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is urging the former Soviet republic of Georgia to further integrate with Europe and NATO and renewing dema...
» US urges Georgia to align with EU, NATO - Yahoo News
26/02/14 12:51 from nato - Google News
InSerbia News US urges Georgia to align with EU, NATO Yahoo News WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is urging the former Soviet republic of Georgia to further integrate with Europe and NATO and renewing demands that Russia withdraw troo...
» NATO plans for early Afghan exit - Stars and Stripes
26/02/14 12:43 from nato - Google News
NATO plans for early Afghan exit Stars and Stripes STUTTGART, Germany — NATO defense ministers will discuss plans for a complete withdrawal from Afghanistan by the end of 2014 should Afghanistan and the U.S. fail to reach agreement on a ...
» НАТО продолжит поддерживать суверенитет Украины - РИА Новости
26/02/14 12:23 from нато - Google News
РИА Новости НАТО продолжит поддерживать суверенитет Украины РИА Новости БРЮССЕЛЬ, 26 фев — РИА Новости, Владимир Добровольский. НАТО продолжит поддерживать суверенитет, независимость и территориальную целостность Украины, говорится в сов...
» Hagel Says Europeans Should Step up NATO Support - ABC News
26/02/14 11:20 from nato - Google News
Hagel Says Europeans Should Step up NATO Support ABC News In remarks to the opening of a two-day defense ministers meeting at NATO headquarters, Hagel said the current path of declining European defense investment is not sustainable. &qu...
» Генсек НАТО заверил Украину в поддержке демократических реформ - РИА Новости
26/02/14 07:52 from нато - Google News
РИА Новости Генсек НАТО заверил Украину в поддержке демократических реформ РИА Новости " НАТО соблюдает суверенный выбор Украины. Мы проведем дискуссии с нашими украинскими партнерами в рамках комиссии НАТО -Украина. Украина — близк...
» Колебания ЕС и НАТО позволят России напасть на Украину - The New York Times - Последние новости в мире
26/02/14 06:48 from нато - Google News
Колебания ЕС и НАТО позволят России напасть на Украину - The New York Times Последние новости в мире Однако в 2008 году НАТО колебалось, приглашать ли Грузию в блок открыто. "Россия немедленно вынесла для себя из этого выгоду и разв...
» NATO Countries' 2013 Defense Spending Estimates Are Likely To Upset US ... - International Business Times
25/02/14 17:47 from nato - Google News
International Business Times NATO Countries' 2013 Defense Spending Estimates Are Likely To Upset US ... International Business Times NATO officials released a list of the estimated 2013 defense expenditures of member countries on Mon...
» US pushes NATO membership for Georgia - The Voice of Russia
25/02/14 05:17 from Nato Russia - Google News
InSerbia News US pushes NATO membership for Georgia The Voice of Russia “At all its recent summits, NATO repeated that it held the door open. The latest events in Ukraine where local nationalists have actually seized power arouse deep co...
» Afghanistan post-NATO: India remains hopeful, Russia unconvinced - India Today
25/02/14 02:48 from Nato Russia - Google News
India Today Afghanistan post- NATO : India remains hopeful, Russia unconvinced India Today It is widely known that USA-led North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ( NATO ) troops will wind up combat duties and exit Afghanistan before 2014 end...
» Russian and NATO generals agree to keep in touch over Ukraine - Reuters
24/02/14 17:11 from russia nato - Google News
Russian and NATO generals agree to keep in touch over Ukraine Reuters U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, discussed Ukraine in a phone call on Monday with General Valery Gerasimov, chief o...
» Nato to hold crunch Afghanistan talks as Obama weighs military 'zero option' - The Guardian
24/02/14 12:10 from nato - Google News
The Guardian Nato to hold crunch Afghanistan talks as Obama weighs military 'zero option' The Guardian Nato defence ministers will meet this week to discuss its future military presence in Afghanistan as Barack Obama weighs wheth...
» Russian, NATO top brass discuss security issues, situation in Ukraine ... - The Voice of Russia
24/02/14 09:46 from Nato Russia - Google News
Russian , NATO top brass discuss security issues, situation in Ukraine ... The Voice of Russia They also discussed interaction between Russia and NATO , as well as efforts being made by the Russia - NATO Council to ensure the safe dispos...
» ​Will NATO annex Ukraine? - RT (blog)
24/02/14 04:57 from Nato Russia - Google News
RT (blog) ​Will NATO annex Ukraine? RT (blog) No wonder there will be an urgent NATO Defense Ministers meeting in Brussels on Wednesday, centered on Ukraine. No one will ever read that in US corporate media – or in academia for that matt...
» NATO and Russia to develop a remote medical services system - NATO HQ (press release)
21/02/14 07:36 from Nato Russia - Google News
NATO and Russia to develop a remote medical services system NATO HQ (press release) NATO and Russia will seek to develop a multinational system utilising telecommunications to provide health care at a distance, including an international...
» Exclusive: Russia, NATO plan joint operation on Syria's chemical weapons - Reuters
14/02/14 10:26 from Nato Russia - Google News
Telegraph.co.uk Exclusive: Russia , NATO plan joint operation on Syria's chemical weapons Reuters Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen discussed supporting international efforts to d...
» NATO-Industry Forum
14/11/13 08:00 from NATO Latest News
The NATO Industry Forum addresses a recognised need for more elevated dialogue between NATO and industry to ensure the Alliance benefits from the best solutions to military requirements, within expected budget and time constraints, now a...
» Detecting suicide attacks – from research to reality
30/10/13 09:00 from NATO Latest News
It is a world first: technology for the remote, real-time detection of explosives was tested live in an underground station in a major European city. The results were conclusive, paving the way for more widespread use of this technology....
» NATO and Ukraine navy together in the fight against piracy
30/10/13 09:00 from NATO Latest News
The Chairman of NATO's Military Committee, General Knud Bartels, travelled to the Gulf of Aden on 28-30 October 2013 to visit the Ukrainian Navy frigate Hetman Sahaydachniy deployed there as part of Operation Ocean Shield, NATO's counter...
» NATO Deputy Secretary General to visit Romania
28/10/13 09:00 from NATO Latest News
The NATO Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Alexander Vershbow, will visit Romania on Monday, 28 October 2013 to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony of the missile defence facility in Deveselu.
» NATO AWACS marks 10,000 flight hours in support of Afghanistan mission
28/10/13 09:00 from NATO Latest News
NATO’s fleet of E-3A Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft surpassed a significant milestone this past weekend after reaching 10,000 flight hours in support of the Alliance’s mission in Afghanistan.
» Deputy Secretary General attends ballistic missile defence groundbreaking in Romania
28/10/13 09:00 from NATO Latest News
NATO Deputy Secretary General Ambassador Alexander Vershbow on Monday (28 October 2013) participated in a groundbreaking ceremony of the missile defence facility at the Deveselu airbase in southern Romania. “This facility will be an impo...
» Statement by the NATO Secretary General on the Presidential Elections in Georgia
28/10/13 09:00 from NATO Latest News
I congratulate the Georgian people on holding transparent and peaceful presidential elections in which fundamental freedoms of expression, movement, and assembly were respected. Through these elections, Georgia has passed yet another tes...
» Rapid Reaction Corps France gears up for new tasks
25/10/13 09:00 from NATO Latest News
Next year’s rotation of the command of the land component of the NATO Response Force (NRF) will be assumed by Headquarters Rapid Reaction Corps - France. It just completed a series of demanding training exercises to prepare for final cer...
» National Armaments Directors discuss armaments planning and multinational cooperation
24/10/13 09:00 from NATO Latest News
Top national officials responsible for defence procurement in NATO partner and member countries gathered in Brussels for the biennial Conference of National Armaments Directors (CNAD) on 24 October 2013.
» Visit to NATO by Minister of State for Defence Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain
24/10/13 09:00 from NATO Latest News
The Minister of State for Defence Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Gen. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al-Khalifa, will visit NATO Headquarters on Friday, 25 October 2013. The Minister of State will meet the NATO Deputy Secretary General...
» Fostering cooperation on emerging security challenges in Romania and the Balkans
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Opportunities for security-related civil science cooperation between experts from Romania and NATO partner countries, particularly in the Balkans region, was the focus of an Information Day on the NATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS...
» Visit to NATO by His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin al-Hussein of Jordan
23/10/13 09:00 from NATO Latest News
His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin al-Hussein of Jordan will visit NATO Headquarters on Thursday 24 October 2013. His Royal Highness will meet the NATO Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Alexander Vershbow.
» Efforts to develop a gender perspective in NATO-led operations get mixed review
23/10/13 09:00 from NATO Latest News
A searching independent review finds that NATO and its operational partners have made ‘significant progress’ in implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 in NATO-led operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo – but says ther...
» NATO-Russia Council discusses widening cooperation
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NATO Defence Ministers together with their Russian counterpart, Sergey Shoygu, discussed ways to widen their practical cooperation and exchanged views on pressing events on the international agenda, including Syria, during a NATO-Russia ...
» NATO Allies and partners stress support for Afghan Security Forces
23/10/13 09:00 from NATO Latest News
NATO Allies and ISAF partners on Wednesday (23 October 2013) discussed with their Afghan counterpart progress in Afghanistan and planning for the post-2014 mission to train, advise and assist Afghan Security Forces. “We have moved closer...
» NATO Defence Ministers move forward with Connected Forces agenda 
22/10/13 09:00 from NATO Latest News
Defence Ministers from allied countries met on Tuesday (22 October) in Brussels and agreed to ensure that the experience of 20 years of operations in Afghanistan, in the Balkans and elsewhere is retained through more training and exercis...
» Defence Ministers discuss ways to enhance NATO forces training, exercises
22/10/13 09:00 from NATO Latest News
NATO Defence Ministers will discuss ways to bolster and improve the training, education and exercises of Allied forces at the start of a two-day ministerial on Tuesday (22 October 2013) which will also review progress on cyber defence, b...
» NATO Secretary General’s statement on advisory team for Libya
21/10/13 09:00 from NATO Latest News
Allies have agreed to respond positively to the request made by the Libyan Prime Minister for NATO to provide advice on defence institution building in Libya, as part of the overall efforts of the international community. We will establi...
» Capabilities, cooperation with Russia, Afghanistan tops Defence Ministerial agenda 
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Improving capabilities, progress in Afghanistan and NATO-Russia cooperation will top the agenda of this week’s two-day NATO Defence Ministerial which starts on Tuesday (22 October 2013).
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News: NATO-Ukraine Commission stresses continued engagement, 27-Feb.-2014

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27 Feb. 2014
A meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission (NUC) on Thursday (27 February 2014) stressed the commitment of its members to the values of democracy and the rule of law. The meeting was a timely opportunity for Allies to discuss the momentous events in Ukraine.
NATO has a long-standing partnership with Ukraine. Today we made clear that NATO stands ready to support democratic development, defence reforms, military cooperation and democratic control over the security sector,” said NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
He stressed that “we wish to continue our engagement and confirm our support to Ukraine on the path of democratic and inclusive reforms”. The Secretary General highlighted defence reform and military cooperation as key priorities, offering NATO’s continued support to Ukraine as it strengthens democratic control over the defence sector.  The Secretary General expressed concern over recent developments in Ukraine’s Crimea region.
This morning’s action by an armed group is dangerous and irresponsible.  I urge Russia not to take any action that could escalate tension or create misunderstanding. I urge the new Ukrainian leadership to continue its efforts to establish an inclusive political process that reflects the democratic aspirations of the entire Ukrainian people.  And I urge all parties to step back from confrontation, refrain from provocative actions and return to the path of dialogue. There is a need for all concerned to take a responsible stance and to work for stability,“ he said.
The Ukrainian delegation to the NUC meeting was led by First Deputy Minister of Defence Oleksandr Oliynyk. The NATO-Ukraine Commission (NUC) was established in 1997 and provides a forum for consultation between the Allies and Ukraine on security issues of common concern.

НАТО призывает Россию не допустить эскалации напряжения в Крыму, - Расмуссен

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Генеральный секретарь НАТО Андерс Фог Расмуссен призывает Россию не предпринимать каких-либо действий, которые приведут к эскалации напряжения или создадут недопонимание в Крыму.
"Я чрезвычайно обеспокоен недавним развитием событий в Крыму. Действия вооруженных групп, которые произошли сегодня, опасны и безответственны. Я призываю Россию не предпринимать никаких действий, которые могут привести к эскалации напряжения", - заявил он в четверг в Брюсселе, открывая заседание Комиссии Украина-НАТО.
Кроме того, генсек НАТО призывал руководство Украины "продолжать оказывать усилия для установления инклюзивного политического процесса, который отразит демократические стремления всего украинского народа".
"Я призываю все стороны отойти от конфронтации, воздержаться от провокационных действий и вернуться к диалогу", - добавил Расмуссен.

Ousted Ukrainian leader Viktor Yanukovych reported to be in Russia | World news

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The Russian government sanatorium where Viktor Yanukovych was reportedly staying on Wednesday
The Russian government sanatorium where ousted Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych was reportedly staying on Wednesday night. Photograph: Yuri Kochetkov/EPA
Ukraine's ousted president, Viktor Yanukovych, has surfaced in Russia and is still claiming to be the legitimate ruler of his country, according to Russian media reports quoting top government sources.
"Given that President Yanukovych appealed to Russian authorities with a request to guarantee his personal safety, that request has been granted on Russian territory," a government source told Interfax.
An appeal to Ukrainian citizens from Yanukovych said: "My allies and I were being threatened with revenge and so I was forced to ask the Russian authorities to guarantee my personal safety from the actions of extremists."
Yanukovych said he continues to believe he is the legitimate president of Ukraine and wants to achieve a compromise that would enable Ukraine to exit the crisis. The deposed president called the current session of Ukraine's parliament – which among other things is electing a new government – "illegitimate".
"There is an orgy of extremism on the streets of many cities," wrote the president. "I am certain that in these conditions all the decisions taken [by the parliament] will be ineffective and not carried out.
"In this situation, I officially declare that I am determined to fight to the end for the implementation of important compromise agreements that will bring Ukraine out of the deep political crisis."
And yet, after his flight from Kiev, the president has lost authority even among his closest allies – the mayor of a town in his eastern heartland has described him as "history", his close aides have fled and even the oligarch most tightly allied to him, Rinat Akhmetov, has said he is ready to work with the new authorities.
It is only in Crimea that the new government has no authority at all; it is possible Yanukovych may find support there. However, even in areas that are cynical about the makeup of the new government, there is little support for Yanukovych personally.
His exact whereabouts in Russia remain unclear. He left his opulent Kiev residence – now open to the public – in a hurry on Friday night, and last appeared in the role of president in a television interview on Saturday when he compared the new government in Kiev to the Nazis.
It is believed that he fled the port of Sevastopol by boat after being refused permission to leave the country from Donetsk, and arrived in Russia by sea.
On Wednesday evening, a reputable Russian news site, RBK, ran a report claiming that Yanukovych was staying at a top government sanatorium in the Moscow region – a retreat that has previously hosted top Soviet and post-Soviet officials including Leonid Brezhnev and Boris Yeltsin.
Quoting an unnamed prominent Russian businessman and saying his account was corroborated by a government official, RBK said that Yanukovych had travelled to the hotel complex after briefly stopping at the Ukraina hotel in the centre of Moscow. Other reports have suggested that Yanukovych allies and regime-friendly businessmen have been seen at the Ukraina in recent days.
The acting interior minister, Arsen Avakov, said he had not ordered a full-scale search to track down Yanukovych in Crimea because he felt that political stability in the region was more important than the fate of the ex-president.
The Ukrainian parliament has voted that Yanukovych should be sent to the international criminal court in The Hague, though legal experts have said the court would be unlikely to take on such a case.
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Armed Men Seize Government Buildings in Crimea

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The Crimean parliament was taken over by armed men early Thursday morning. | Wikimedia Commons
A group of armed men seized the Crimean Parliament and Council of Ministers buildings in the Ukrainian city of Simferopol on Wednesday night.
Russian flags are hoisted on top of the buildings, Interfax reported, adding that local sources told them that the men are part of a spontaneously "self-defense" unit formed by the region's Russian-speaking population . A flag reading "Crimea Russia" in Russian hangs on barricades outside the building's entrance. 
Following the ousting of Kremlin ally and former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych from his post last Saturday, the predominantly pro-Russian Crimea has been divided between Russian separatists and ethnic Tatars who support the new Ukrainian government. In addition to ethnic ties, Russia also maintains a Black Sea naval base in the Crimean city of Sevastopol.
The invaders have not yet issued any demands since seizing the buildings around 4 a.m. Crimean Prime Minister Anatoly Mogilev reportedly tried to conduct negotiations with the unknown men, but was unsuccessful. 
Mogilev said that the men do not want to enter into negotiations or explain the reasons for their actions, but that members of the Supreme Council of Crimea were being allowed into the building. An unidentified Crimean government official told Interfax Thursday afternoon that a meeting of the parliament at 2 p.m. local time would discuss greater autonomy for the region.
The scene outside the building turned to one of pro-Russia support in the mid-afternoon, as between 300 and 400 young people with Russian flags crossed police lines and began shouting "Russia! Russia!" ahead of a the planned parliamentary session, Interfax reported. The demonstrations follow larger actions by both pro- and anti-Russia groups in front of the parliament on Wednesday, which turned into violent clashes between the two groups. 
No one was injured in the building takeover, Mogilev's press secretary said. The surrounding area has been sealed off by police, and a work holiday has been declared in the city.
"We were building barricades in the night to protect parliament. Then this young Russian guy came up with a pistol ... we all lay down, some more ran up, there was some shooting and around 50 went in through the window," ethnic Russian Leonid Khazanov told Reuters.
Acting Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said on his Facebook page that police had been put on high alert in response to the building seizure. He said "provocateurs are on the march. Time for cool heads, consolidation of healthy forces and precise actions."
Observers speculated about possible military movement midday Thursday after multiple media outlets have reported that there is a line of armored vehicles outside the city near a Russian military base in the Simferopol region.
Interfax Ukraine reported that the tanks, which were headed in the direction of Simferopol, were conducting a training exercise and have since turned around. 
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has asked for immediate consultations with Moscow and summoned Russia's envoy in Kiev, Reuters reported. 
Acting Ukrainian President Oleksander Turchynov had earlier in the day urged Russian military forces not to move outside of their base in Sevastopol and that doing so would be seen as an act of aggression. 
The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's office announced that it has opened an investigation into the building seizure as a terrorist act. 
The scene outside the building turned to one of pro-Russia support in the mid-afternoon, as between 300 and 400 young people with Russian flags crossed police lines and began shouting "Russia! Russia!" ahead of a the planned parliamentary session, Interfax reported. 
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Yanukovych Request for Protection in Russia Granted, Official Says

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Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych | D. Grishkin / Vedomosti
Russian authorities have granted a request from ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych for protection on Russian territory, an unidentified government official said Thursday.
State-run news agency Interfax cited a statement from Yanukovych, in which the deposed president said that he and those close to him had received death threats and asked Russia to ensure his “safety from the activities of extremists.”
A “source in the power structures of the Russian federation” later told Interfax that Russia had accepted Yanukovych's request.
Russian news outlet RBK earlier reported that Yanukovych stayed at the Hotel Ukraina in central Moscow before moving to a Kremlin sanatorium outside Moscow. The hotel issued an official denial of the report on Thursday.
The whereabouts of Yanukovych, who is on an international wanted list, have been largely unknown since he fled Kiev over the weekend amid rising violence between anti-government protesters and police. News reports said that he had tried to leave the country on a flight from Donetsk on Saturday, only to be denied by border guards.
Yanukovych's statement said he still considers himself president of Ukraine and that recent decisions made by the Ukrainian parliament since his departure were not legitimate, adding that the agreement between his administration and opposition leaders on Feb. 21 had gone unfulfilled.
He urged a resolution to the turmoil in the country based on the previous agreement and said, “now it becomes visible, that the people in south-east Ukraine and Crimea do not accept anarchy and lawlessness in the country, when the leaders of ministries are elected by the crowd in a square.”
The acting Ukrainian government has expressed fears of separatism in eastern parts of the country since Yanukovych fled Kiev and was impeached by the country's parliament. Armed men believed to be part of a pro-Russia group took control of Crimean government buildings on Wednesday night.
The ousted president ordered the armed forces of Ukraine not to interfere in political events and added that any order to use the country's military would be a crime.
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New Ukraine ministers proposed, Russian troops on alert

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SIMFEROPOL, Ukraine/KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine's protest leaders named the ministers they want to form a new government following the overthrow of President Viktor Yanukovich, as an angry Russia put 150,000 troops on high alert in a show of strength.

President Vladimir Putin's order on Wednesday for soldiers to be ready for war games near Ukrainewas the Kremlin's boldest gesture yet after days of sabre rattling since its ally Yanukovich was ousted at the weekend.

Moscow denied that the previously unannounced drill in its western military district was linked to events in its neighbor but it came amid a series of increasingly strident statements about the fate of Russian citizens and interests.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry warned Moscow that "any kind of military intervention that would violate the sovereign territorial integrity of Ukraine would be a huge - a grave mistake".

With the political turmoil hammering Ukraine's economy, the central bank said it would no longer intervene to shield the hryvnia currency, which tumbled 4 percent on Wednesday and is now down a fifth since January 1. Wednesday's abrupt abandonment of Ukraine's currency peg sent ripples to Russia where the rouble fell to five-year lows and bank shares fell.

In Kiev, leaders of the popular protests that toppled Yanukovich on Wednesday named former economy minister Arseny Yatseniuk as their choice to head a new interim government.

In a display of people power, the so-called 'Euromaidan' council made its announcement of Yatseniuk, and candidates for other key ministries, after its members addressed crowds on Independence Square, cradle of the insurgency.

UNPOPULAR DECISIONS

Oleksander Turchinov, now acting president, said the new government would have to take unpopular decisions to head off default and guarantee a normal life for Ukraine's people.

The Euromaidan council's proposals must be approved by parliament, which meets on Thursday in an atmosphere heavy with memories of recent bloodshed, whose hundred or so victims are taking on the status of martyrs.

Yanukovich fled Kiev on Friday night after days of violence in which scores of his countrymen were killed. the government says it believes he is hiding in Crimea. It wants him tried at the International Criminal Court in the Hague.

The council named career diplomat Andriy Deshchytsya as foreign minister. Oleksander Shlapak, a former economy minister and former deputy head of the central bank, was named as finance minister.

"This is a government which is doomed to be able to work only for 3-4 months ... because they will have to take unpopular decisions," Turchinov said.

If the new ministers are approved, that would pave the way for talks with the International Monetary Fund to stave off financial meltdown now that Russia is expected to cut off a $15 billion lifeline it offered Yanukovich when he turned his back on ties with the EU in November.

Kerry held out the possibility of providing $1 billion in U.S. loan guarantees for Ukraine, as well as U.S. budget support. He said Europe was also considering putting up roughly $1.5 billion in assistance for Ukraine.

FINANCIAL NEEDS

Senior EU officials discussed a possible aid package for Ukraine and said officials would travel there alongside experts from the IMF to assess Kiev's financial needs.

In Crimea, thousands of ethnic Russians, who form the majority in the region, demonstrated for independence. They scuffled with rival demonstrators supporting the new Kiev authorities. Crimea is home to part of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, which Moscow said it was taking steps to secure.

Demonstrators poured into the regional capital Simferopol, where the provincial parliament was debating the crisis.

Pro-Russian crowds, some cossacks in silk and lambswool hats, shouted "Crimea is Russian!".

Rival demonstrators backing the new authorities - mainly ethnic Tatars repressed under Soviet rule - rallied under a pale blue flag, shouting "Ukraine! Ukraine!" [ID:nL6N0LV2E0]

Russia has repeatedly expressed concern for the safety of Russian citizens in Ukraine, using language similar to statements that preceded its invasion of Georgia in 2008.

"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 news agency quoted Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu as saying.

Shoigu also said Russia was also "carefully watching what is happening in Crimea" and taking "measures to guarantee the safety of facilities, infrastructure and arsenals of the Black Sea Fleet," in remarks reported by state news agency RIA.

Since Yanukovich's downfall, all eyes have been on Putin, who ordered the invasion of neighboring Georgia in 2008 to protect two self-declared independent regions with many ethnic Russians and others holding Russian passports, and then recognized the regions as independent states.

Any military action in Ukraine, a country of 46 million people that has close ties with European powers and the United States, would be far more serious.

Despite the alarm raised by the sabre-rattling, many analysts expect Putin will pull back before taking armed action.

The war games were probably for show, said Moscow-based military analyst Alexander Golts: "Any rational analysis says that Russia would get nothing out of military intervention - it would become an international outcast."

(Additional reporting by Gabriela Baczynska in Donetsk, Steve Gutterman and Ian Bateson in Moscow, Adrian Croft in Brussels and Arshad Mohammed in Washington, Justyna Pawlak in Brussels; Writing by Peter Graff; Editing by Giles Elgood)

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