This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29017736
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Ukraine crisis: 'Russia has launched a great war' | Ukraine crisis: 'Russia has launched a great war' |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Ukraine's defence minister has accused Russia of launching a "great war" that could claim tens of thousands of lives. | Ukraine's defence minister has accused Russia of launching a "great war" that could claim tens of thousands of lives. |
Russia dismissed the comments, saying they only pulled the Ukrainian people further into a bloody civil conflict. | Russia dismissed the comments, saying they only pulled the Ukrainian people further into a bloody civil conflict. |
The comments came after Ukrainian troops were forced to flee Luhansk airport in the east of the country amid an offensive by pro-Russian rebels. | The comments came after Ukrainian troops were forced to flee Luhansk airport in the east of the country amid an offensive by pro-Russian rebels. |
Meanwhile, crisis talks between Ukraine officials, rebels and Russian envoys have broken up without agreement. | Meanwhile, crisis talks between Ukraine officials, rebels and Russian envoys have broken up without agreement. |
"A great war has arrived at our doorstep - the likes of which Europe has not seen since World War Two," Ukrainian Defence Minister Valeriy Heletey wrote on Facebook on Monday. | "A great war has arrived at our doorstep - the likes of which Europe has not seen since World War Two," Ukrainian Defence Minister Valeriy Heletey wrote on Facebook on Monday. |
"Unfortunately, the losses in such a war will be measured not in the hundreds but thousands and tens of thousands," he added. | "Unfortunately, the losses in such a war will be measured not in the hundreds but thousands and tens of thousands," he added. |
Russia has repeatedly denied Ukrainian and Western accusations that it is providing troops and equipment to the rebels. | Russia has repeatedly denied Ukrainian and Western accusations that it is providing troops and equipment to the rebels. |
Russia's foreign ministry said it was "hard to believe that such statements can be made by the defence minister of a civilised state". | Russia's foreign ministry said it was "hard to believe that such statements can be made by the defence minister of a civilised state". |
Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday that there could be "no military solution" to the crisis in Ukraine. | |
The situation was "very chaotic and dangerous" and required "a political dialogue for a political solution" that was sustainable, he told journalists during a visit to New Zealand. | |
'Overt aggression' | 'Overt aggression' |
On Monday, Ukraine's army said it had been forced to withdraw from Luhansk airport after it was attacked by Russian tanks. | |
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said the incident was "direct, overt aggression against Ukraine from the neighbouring state". | Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said the incident was "direct, overt aggression against Ukraine from the neighbouring state". |
The retreat came amid a series of gains by pro-Russian rebels in both the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, and further south around the port of Mariupol. | The retreat came amid a series of gains by pro-Russian rebels in both the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, and further south around the port of Mariupol. |
As many as 680 soldiers had been captured by rebels in recent clashes around Donetsk, according to state news agency UNIAN. | As many as 680 soldiers had been captured by rebels in recent clashes around Donetsk, according to state news agency UNIAN. |
A senior Ukrainian official told the AFP news agency that Russia's goal is to "destabilise [Ukraine] and create a land corridor to Crimea", the southern peninsula annexed by Russia in March. | A senior Ukrainian official told the AFP news agency that Russia's goal is to "destabilise [Ukraine] and create a land corridor to Crimea", the southern peninsula annexed by Russia in March. |
But Russian President Vladimir Putin said Europe was ignoring the Ukrainian military's "direct targeting" of civilians in eastern Ukraine. | But Russian President Vladimir Putin said Europe was ignoring the Ukrainian military's "direct targeting" of civilians in eastern Ukraine. |
Rebels seeking special status | Rebels seeking special status |
The latest round of crisis talks got underway in Belarus on Monday but after several hours of negotiations, they were adjourned until Friday. | The latest round of crisis talks got underway in Belarus on Monday but after several hours of negotiations, they were adjourned until Friday. |
"This is just the beginning of the process," Andrei Purgin, a leader of the Donetsk People's Republic rebel group, told Russian TV. | "This is just the beginning of the process," Andrei Purgin, a leader of the Donetsk People's Republic rebel group, told Russian TV. |
Rebel representatives are said to have softened their demand for full independence, telling Russian media they were seeking a "special status" for their regions within Ukraine. | Rebel representatives are said to have softened their demand for full independence, telling Russian media they were seeking a "special status" for their regions within Ukraine. |
This would leave them in charge of security and give them amnesty from prosecution, while also recognising "deepening economic integration with Russia", the rebels said. | This would leave them in charge of security and give them amnesty from prosecution, while also recognising "deepening economic integration with Russia", the rebels said. |
Correspondents say their demands would mean the de facto division of the country, with the government in Kiev looking to secure closer economic ties with the EU. | Correspondents say their demands would mean the de facto division of the country, with the government in Kiev looking to secure closer economic ties with the EU. |
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, meanwhile, said he was counting on the talks to focus on "agreeing an immediate and unconditional ceasefire". | Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, meanwhile, said he was counting on the talks to focus on "agreeing an immediate and unconditional ceasefire". |
War in eastern Ukraine: The human cost | War in eastern Ukraine: The human cost |
Are you in Ukraine? How have you been affected by the current situation there? You can emails us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk to share your experiences with us. | Are you in Ukraine? How have you been affected by the current situation there? You can emails us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk to share your experiences with us. |
Previous version
1
Next version