This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/07/world/europe/ukraine.html

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Authorities Block Flights Into Eastern Ukraine Authorities Block Flights Into Eastern Ukraine
(34 minutes later)
KIEV, Ukraine — The Ukrainian authorities apparently blocked all international flights into the embattled eastern region of the country on Tuesday, as the interior minister said that four government soldiers and perhaps more than 30 pro-Russian rebels had been killed in clashes the previous day near the city of Slovyansk.KIEV, Ukraine — The Ukrainian authorities apparently blocked all international flights into the embattled eastern region of the country on Tuesday, as the interior minister said that four government soldiers and perhaps more than 30 pro-Russian rebels had been killed in clashes the previous day near the city of Slovyansk.
The authorities also canceled at least 20 flights from Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine’s largest city, and Donetsk, a regional capital, as they girded for violence ahead of a holiday on Friday commemorating victory in World War II. By mid-afternoon, all air traffic within Ukraine appeared to have ceased. The authorities also canceled at least 20 flights from Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine’s largest city, and Donetsk, a regional capital, as they girded for violence ahead of a holiday on Friday commemorating victory in World War II. By midafternoon, all air traffic within Ukraine appeared to have ceased.
On Monday, Ukraine’s acting president, Oleksandr V. Turchynov, said that vehicle checkpoints had been established at strategic points around the capital of Kiev as a precaution against attacks.On Monday, Ukraine’s acting president, Oleksandr V. Turchynov, said that vehicle checkpoints had been established at strategic points around the capital of Kiev as a precaution against attacks.
In a posting on Facebook, the interior minister, Arsen Avakov, accused the pro-Russian separatists of using civilians as human shields. “The Ukrainian military can’t fire on civilians,” Mr. Avakov said. “That is how they are restricted. And this restriction is used by our enemies. The enemy hides behind people and fires from there.”In a posting on Facebook, the interior minister, Arsen Avakov, accused the pro-Russian separatists of using civilians as human shields. “The Ukrainian military can’t fire on civilians,” Mr. Avakov said. “That is how they are restricted. And this restriction is used by our enemies. The enemy hides behind people and fires from there.”
The developments coincided with mounting Western concern that the fighting in the east could spiral out of control and lead to direct intervention by Russia, which has deployed tens of thousands of troops on its side of the border, supposedly for training exercises.The developments coincided with mounting Western concern that the fighting in the east could spiral out of control and lead to direct intervention by Russia, which has deployed tens of thousands of troops on its side of the border, supposedly for training exercises.
In a television interview in Paris, President François Hollande of France said that if an election planned by the Kiev authorities for May 25 was not held, “there would be chaos and the risk of civil war.”In a television interview in Paris, President François Hollande of France said that if an election planned by the Kiev authorities for May 25 was not held, “there would be chaos and the risk of civil war.”
In Vienna, around 30 foreign ministers — including those of Ukraine and Russia — were meeting on Tuesday under the auspices of the Council of Europe to debate the crisis.In Vienna, around 30 foreign ministers — including those of Ukraine and Russia — were meeting on Tuesday under the auspices of the Council of Europe to debate the crisis.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague suggested at the meeting that Russia is feeding the conflict in Ukraine to undermine the presidential election scheduled for May 25. He told reporters, according to the AP, “Russia is clearly intent on preventing or disrupting those elections.” He said that the foreign ministers at the meeting supported holding the vote without any outside interference. The British foreign secretary, William Hague, suggested at the meeting that Russia is feeding the conflict in Ukraine to undermine the presidential election scheduled for May 25. He told reporters, according to The Associated Press, “Russia is clearly intent on preventing or disrupting those elections.” He said that the foreign ministers at the meeting supported holding the vote without any outside interference.
But Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei V. Lavrov said at the same meeting it would be “unusual” to hold a presidential election in Ukraine while the government was using military force across a broad region of the country, according to Reuters. But Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei V. Lavrov, said at the same meeting that it would be “unusual” to hold a presidential election in Ukraine while the government was using military force across a broad region of the country, according to Reuters.
Late on Monday, the German Foreign Ministry in Berlin toughened its travel advisory for Ukraine, recommending that German citizens leave eastern and southern Ukraine. On Sunday, the ministry was strongly advising Germans against entering those areas.Late on Monday, the German Foreign Ministry in Berlin toughened its travel advisory for Ukraine, recommending that German citizens leave eastern and southern Ukraine. On Sunday, the ministry was strongly advising Germans against entering those areas.
Journalists were expressly warned against traveling to the south and east. “In the light of the most recent developments one must assume that media representatives run a particular risk of being blocked or detained by separatist forces,” the Foreign Ministry said.Journalists were expressly warned against traveling to the south and east. “In the light of the most recent developments one must assume that media representatives run a particular risk of being blocked or detained by separatist forces,” the Foreign Ministry said.
Germany spent last week working for the release of four military observers who were captured by pro-Russian militants in Slovyansk. The four men and the other seven people held with their German-led military observer team were freed over the weekend, and Germany has since said it would not send more military observers to Ukraine.Germany spent last week working for the release of four military observers who were captured by pro-Russian militants in Slovyansk. The four men and the other seven people held with their German-led military observer team were freed over the weekend, and Germany has since said it would not send more military observers to Ukraine.
Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier suggested in a television interview late Monday that events were now beyond the control of the authorities in Kiev and Moscow.Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier suggested in a television interview late Monday that events were now beyond the control of the authorities in Kiev and Moscow.
“I’m convinced that we are struggling against a situation that has taken on a dynamic of its own,” Mr. Steinmeier said. “There are groups in eastern Ukraine that are not listening” to the central governments in Ukraine and Russia, he said.“I’m convinced that we are struggling against a situation that has taken on a dynamic of its own,” Mr. Steinmeier said. “There are groups in eastern Ukraine that are not listening” to the central governments in Ukraine and Russia, he said.
In a separate interview with four European newspapers, Mr. Steinmeier said recent violence in the Ukrainian city of Odessa had “shown us that we are just a few steps away from a military confrontation.” Conflict has reached a point that “a short time ago we would have considered impossible,” he added.In a separate interview with four European newspapers, Mr. Steinmeier said recent violence in the Ukrainian city of Odessa had “shown us that we are just a few steps away from a military confrontation.” Conflict has reached a point that “a short time ago we would have considered impossible,” he added.
Navi Pillay, the top United Nations human rights official, also sounded the alarm, urging “all sides to make a much greater effort to find a peaceful resolution to the current crisis, especially in the various towns in eastern and southern Ukraine that have been racked by increasingly violent confrontations.”
“Armed opposition groups must stop all illegal actions, including detaining people and seizing public buildings in violation of Ukraine’s laws and Constitution. These organized and well-armed groups should lay down their weapons, free arbitrarily detained persons, and vacate occupied public and administrative buildings,” she said in a statement.