Russia wants to set southeast ‘on fire’: Ukraine
Slavyasnk (Ukraine): Ukraine’s Western- backed leader accused Russia of trying to enflame the country’s southeast but said he would proceed cautiously against pro-Kremlin militias consolidating control in the volatile region. Oleksandr Turchynov’s impassioned charges against Ukraine’s historic master came only hours after a “frank and direct” exchange on the crisis between US President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
Criminal use of force would imperil talks: lavrov
Beijing: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei lavrov warned Kiev against using force to quell pro-Moscow separatists in eastern Ukraine, saying the “criminal” act would undermine talks planned in Geneva. “One cannot issue invitations to talks while at the same time issuing criminal orders for the use of armed force against the people there,” he said in a visit to Beijing.
‘Remove Russian tanks from Berlin WWII memorial’
Berlin: Germany’s top-selling Bild daily launched a petition on Tuesday to remove two Russian tanks from a World War II memorial in central Berlin in protest against escalating tensions in Ukraine. The tabloid-style newspaper, which sells more than two million copies each day, called on its readers to sign and mail the letter to the Bundestag lower house of Parliament. “At a time in which Russian tanks are threatening free, democratic Europe, we don’t want any Russian tanks at the Brandenburg Gate,” Bild wrote, referring to the landmark symbol of German unity since the end of the Cold War.