Ukrainian pro-Russian supporters seize government building in Donetsk / Ukraine crisis: Key four-way talks announced

Series Title
Series Details 06.04.14
Publication Date 06/04/2014
Content Type

Euronews and other news sources reported that some of the people taking part in a large pro-Russian rally seized control of the state administration building in Donetsk in the eastern part of Ukraine on the 6 April 2014. Similar protests took place in the cities of Luhansk, Odessa and Kharkiv.

They were said to be demanding a referendum on the region, similar to the one that led to the annexation of Crimea by Russia weeks earlier.

Ukraine's acting president Olexander Turchynov called an emergency security meeting in response to the pro-Russian protests.

It was reported that on the 7 April 2014 that pro-Russian protesters who had seized the regional government building in the Ukrainian city of Donetsk had declared a 'people's republic'.

RIA Novosti reported that the Donetsk region People’s Council established by local pro-federalisation demonstrators declared its plans to create the republic of Donetsk and join Russia if people so voted during the referendum which was due to take place no later than 11 May 2014.

US Secretary of State John Kerry told Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov in a phone call that any Russian efforts at destabilisation 'would incur costs'. US state department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told press in Washington on the 7 April 2014 that the EU, Russia, Ukraine and the US were to hold joint talks in the following 10 days. That was agreed during that same phone call.

On the 8 April 2014, Russia's Foreign Ministry accused Ukraine's interim government of making 'military preparations' in eastern Ukraine that could lead to 'an outbreak of civil war'.

Axel Fischer, deputy president of the Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly, stated that Russia's delegation at the Council might face sanctions, but he also said it was unlikely Russia would be excluded altogether.

It was announced on the 8 April 2014 that the Foreign Ministers of the US, Russian Federation and Ukraine, plus the EU's High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs would meet for the first time as a group during the crisis in Ukraine in the following week to discuss the situation.

On the 9 April 2014 Ukraine's interior minister Arsen Avakov warned pro-Russian activists who had taken over state buildings in eastern cities to enter talks to find a political solution or face 'force' within 48 hours.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.euronews.com/2014/04/06/ukrainian-pro-russian-supporters-seize-government-building-in-donetsk/
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Kyiv Post, 07.04.14: Turchynov cancels trip to Lithuania to combat pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk, Luhansk http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/turchynov-cancels-trip-to-lithuania-to-combat-pro-russian-separatists-in-donetsk-luhansk-342267.html
EUObserver, 07.04.14: Donetsk seizure raises concern of Ukraine escalation http://euobserver.com/foreign/123768
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OSCE: Press Release, 04.04.14: Statement by the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities on her recent visits to Ukraine http://www.osce.org/hcnm/117175
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RIA Novosti, 07.04.14: Donetsk People’s Council Set to Hold Referendum to Join Russia May 11 http://en.ria.ru/world/20140407/189086720/Donetsk-Peoples-Council-Set-to-Hold-Referendum-to-Join-Russia.html
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The Guardian, 07.04.14: Ukraine crisis escalates as pro-Russia activists declare independence in Donetsk http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/07/ukraine-crisis-pro-russia-activists-declare-independence-donetsk
The Guardian, 07.04.14: It's not Russia that is destabilising Ukraine http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/apr/07/sergei-lavrov-russia-stabilise-ukraine-west
Deutsche Welle, 07.04.14: 'Council of Europe must keep talking to Russia' http://dw.de/p/1BdD9
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BBC News, 08.04.14: Ukraine crisis: Nato warns Russia against further intervention http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26941799
EEAS: Press Release, 08.04.14: Statement by the Spokesperson of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the situation in Eastern Ukraine http://eeas.europa.eu/statements/docs/2014/140408_08_en.pdf
BBC News, 09.04.14: Ukraine crisis: Key four-way talks announced http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26946807
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BBC News, 09.04.14: Ukraine in 48-hour ultimatum to east's pro-Russia activists http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26953113
BBC News, 10.04.14: US and Russia urge peaceful solution to Ukraine crisis http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26965632

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