Category: Ukraine

Brent crude ticked higher Monday following the weekend’s contentious referendum in Ukraine, but gains were limited by indications of ample supply. The unofficial referendum in one Ukrainian province raised the prospect of deteriorating relations between Russia and the West, but Saudi Arabia said it would increase output should there be any disruption to supply from Russia. Brent June crude is up 0.5% at $108.41 a barrel on ICE Futures Europe. June crude is up 0.3% at $100.31 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. "Further price strength in Brent crude oil may be limited given a big rebound in non-OPEC output, improved prospects for OPEC supplies and no acceleration in global oil demand growth," Bank of America Merrill Lynch wrote in a note to clients. The bank sees Brent prices averaging $106 a barrel in 2014. Recently, ICE Gasoil was up $2 at $903.75 a metric ton. Gasoline […]

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The Kremlin said Monday it respects the secession referendum in eastern Ukraine and hopes for a "civilized implementation" of the results through talks between Kiev and representatives in the east. , ratcheting up tensions between the West and Moscow. In its first comments since the referendum, the Kremlin appears to challenge the West and Kiev’s standpoint that it was illegitimate. The Kremlin statement said that Moscow welcomes all possible efforts to start negotiations between Kiev and separatist regions with the involvement of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. "Moscow views with respect the expression of the will of the people of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and expects that the practical implementation of the outcome of the referendums will be carried […]

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The Kremlin said Monday it respects the secession referendum in eastern Ukraine and hopes for a "civilized implementation" of the results through talks between Kiev and representatives in the east. , ratcheting up tensions between the West and Moscow. In its first comments since the referendum, the Kremlin appears to challenge the West and Kiev’s standpoint that it was illegitimate. The Kremlin statement said that Moscow welcomes all possible efforts to start negotiations between Kiev and separatist regions with the involvement of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. "Moscow views with respect the expression of the will of the people of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and expects that the practical implementation of the outcome of the referendums will be carried […]

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Pro-Russian groups said large majorities voted in favor of secession in referendums they organized in eastern Ukraine that were dismissed as illegitimate by the government in Kiev and its U.S. and European allies. In Donetsk, 90 percent of voters backed the breakaway plan, RIA Novosti reported late yesterday, citing Roman Liagin, head of the local election committee. In Luhansk, the other region voting, 94 percent to 98 percent supported autonomy with turnout at 75 percent, RIA said. Final results are due later today. The votes went ahead amid violent clashes between government troops and pro-Russian rebels. Ukraine’s acting president called them a “farce.” Russian President Vladimir Putin has been accused by Kiev and its allies of stoking the separatist unrest. He hasn’t decided his position on the referendums, the Kommersant newspaper reported. The referendums are “inspired by Russia ’s leaders to completely destabilize Ukraine, undermine presidential elections and overthrow […]

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Pro-Russian militants in eastern Ukraine vowed on Thursday to press ahead with a referendum seeking autonomy, a risky move that seemed to defy their political patron, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, whose motives in urging a delay in the vote came under furious attack by officials in Kiev. A day after Mr. Putin scrambled the political landscape by suggesting the vote be put off, militant leaders in Donetsk, Luhansk and Slovyansk said they would go ahead on Sunday as scheduled. Far from mollified by Mr. Putin’s new stance, Ukrainian officials expressed deep suspicions, accusing him of trying to replay events preceding Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Although the ability of separatists to stage a legitimate ballot is highly in doubt, the mere possibility that Russia would use the vote as a pretext for another territorial grab had officials in Kiev calling the referendum illegal and insisting that action […]

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Pro-Russian activists in eastern Ukraine are due to consider a proposal by Russian President Vladimir Putin to delay referendums on autonomy. Mr Putin said putting off the vote could help create the conditions necessary for dialogue. Separatist leaders in Donetsk and Luhansk say they will put the matter before "people’s councils". But Ukrainian authorities said "anti-terror" operations would continue regardless of the rebels’ decision. The referendums are due to take place on Sunday and millions of ballot papers have been prepared. And in what appeared to be a further shift in Russian policy, Mr Putin also said on Wednesday that this month’s presidential elections in Ukraine were a move "in the right direction". His remarks came days after his spokesman said holding such an election would be absurd. Military operation continues Moscow has vowed to protect the rights of the largely Russian-speaking people in the south and east against […]

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President Vladimir V. Putin, faced with rising violence in southeastern Ukraine that threatened to draw in the Russian Army at great cost and prompt severe new Western economic sanctions, pressed pause on Wednesday in what had started to look like an inevitable march toward war. But it remained unclear to analysts and political leaders on both sides of the Atlantic whether he was truly reversing course on Ukraine or if this was just another of his judo-inspired feints. Using a far less ominous tone than in previous remarks about Ukraine, Mr. Putin told a news conference at the Kremlin that Russia had withdrawn its troops from along the border and that he had asked separatists to drop plans for a referendum on sovereignty this Sunday. Russia would even accept Ukraine’s presidential election on May 25, he said, if demands for autonomy from the country’s east were recognized. […]

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President Vladimir Putin moved to pull Ukraine back from the brink of breakup Wednesday, calling on separatists to put off a secession vote, softening his attacks on a presidential election and saying his troops had withdrawn from the border. Mr. Putin’s change of tone came after , which has taken dozens of lives and brought East-West relations to their lowest point since the Cold War. But Washington was dismissive and immediately questioned whether Moscow was genuinely committed to stabilizing Ukraine, where the government in Kiev is strongly pro-Western. The Pentagon said it had seen no evidence to back Mr. Putin’s claim that he had called back the tens of thousands of troops deployed to Ukraine’s border last month. The Obama administration noted Mr. Putin failed to call on the pro-Russian separatists to lay down their arms or vacate to the referendum they plan to hold on Sunday. Kiev and […]

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