UkrainePM says Russia airspace violation ‘provocation to war’
Vatican City: Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk on Saturday said that Russian military aircraft had crossed the country’s airspace seven times “to provoke Ukraine to start a war.” “Russian military aircraft overnight crossed and violated Ukrainian airspace seven times. The only reason is to provoke Ukraine to start a war,” he told journalists at a briefing in Rome, following a meeting with Pope Francis and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.
US troops land in lithuania amid Ukraine crisis
Siauliai (lithuania): US troops arrived on Saturday in lithuania, part of a US contingent of 600 sent to the region to reassure NATO allies amid the escalating Ukraine crisis. lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite hailed the arrival of American forces as a “deterrence measure” in the region where alarm has risen over Russia’s actions in Ukraine. “We know in this situation who our real friends are coming to help,” Grybauskaite told reporters, after around 150 troops from the 173rd Airborne Brigade landed at the Siauliai air base.
Pope ‘will do everything possible’ for peace in Ukraine
Vatican City: Pope Francis told Ukraine Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk on Saturday that he will “do everything possible” for peace in the country, amid fears that Russia could be about to invade.
“I will do everything possible”, the Argentine pontiff told Yatsenyuk at the close of an audience in the Vatican, during which he presented the Ukraine premier with a pen, saying: “I hope this pen will sign the peace” agreement.
Foreign military observers held in east Ukraine
Slovyansk: A pro-Russian insurgency leader in eastern Ukraine said that foreign military observers detained as suspected NATO spies could be released in exchange for jailed pro-Russian activists. Outside Slovyansk, a city some 150 kilometers west of Russia, Ukraine Government forces continued operations to form a security cordon as it attempts to quell unrest threatening to derail planned elections on May 25. Vyacheslav Ponomarev, self-proclaimed people’s mayor of Slovyansk, described the detained observers as “captives” and said that they were officers from NATO member States.
Rebel leader vows ‘independence’ referendum in east Ukraine
Donetsk (Ukraine): The head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk Republic on Saturday vowed to go ahead with a referendum on independence for the separatist region in eastern Ukraine next month. Denis Pushilin told reporters that a popular vote on a “declaration of independence” would be held on May 11, despite major doubts over the logistics and legitimacy of such a referendum. The question asked would be “Do you approve of the declaration of independence of the People’s Republic of DonetskIJ” said Pushilin.