Ukraine crisis: EU set to impose sanctions – live updates

[dipsydoodle]

3.19pm GMT

A consensus has been reached over sanctions against Ukrainian officials, according to the Polish deputy foreign minister Piotr Serafin.

Serafin was speaking to reporters after Polish PM Donald Tusk held telephone consultations on Ukraine with other EU heads of government and leaders of European institutions. Serafin said:

The events over the last 24 hours justify the decision of the European Union on sanctions. There was full unity of views among all the people with whom Prime Minister Tusk spoke.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/blog/2014/feb/19/ukraine-25-dead-after-police-storm-kiev-protest-camp-live-updates

[bemildred]

1. That's it, stoke the fire. nt

[justiceischeap]

4. Amazingly, I saw a lot of calls from Ukraine tweeters

calling for sanctions. I don't think they truly know what they're asking for...

[bemildred]

5. I don't think anybody does. That's what's kind of scary about it.

They are all going to double down, inside and outside Ukraine.

[justiceischeap]

10. I was just checking out Twitter

and Ukrainians are blast tweeting US politicians and celebrities asking for sanctions. It's crazy. They apparently haven't noticed what's happened to Iraq because of sanctions.

[pampango]

11. At least the Ukrainian sanctions I have heard discussed are travel restrictions on government

officials. Economic sanctions from the EU directed at Ukraine would be welcomed by Russia since they would drive Ukraine quicker and farther into Russia's sphere of influence. I suspect that EU officials understand that.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

7. Not it at all. Nations need to speak out and take action

Against such overt oppression, violence, and murder of protesters.

[bemildred]

8. Good luck. nt

[Warpy]

2. There are masses of people back in the square

and the weather looks terrible, maybe cold drizzle. The barricades are still smoldering and so are the people, many of whom look like they've lit campfires in an attempt to stay warm.

[dipsydoodle]

3. At least its not freezing which would be even worse

Last edited Wed Feb 19, 2014, 01:43 PM - Edit history (1)

although it looks as if it could be by Sunday.

Current forecast here : http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/703448

[Warpy]

9. It also seems there is actual fighting in the rest of the country

especially the western part where support for joining the EU is strongest.

It looks like they're going to head into a civil war unless the government catches a clue.

[dipsydoodle]

12. Generally speaking the east is pro-Russia.

Yes - civil war maybe the unfortunate likely outcome. If it did divide only the east could prosper. They have the main industrial areas which are heavily reliant on existing exports to Russia - much of the goods could not be exported to the EU. The west has the farming areas and there are doubts to the extent to which the EU would absorb their exports in the event of loss of Russia as a market.

As an aside the EU has another motive for wanting the union - access to Ukraine's vast gas storage tanks for use in the summer when demand for gas is low in Europe at which time I guess gas is cheaper too. If Russia decided to cut off its nose to spite its face and completely shutdown the supply of gas both via Ukraine and Nord Stream it would completely fuck Europe - big time.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. I think we are all watching revolution

Right at the moment. If they succeed some of the minority groups, doing quite a bit of the fighting are right wind nationalists. Others are western looking liberal folks, and the leaders are vying with each other.

It is a real mess.

[dipsydoodle]

13. Meanwhile - Protesters Seize Kiev Post Office, Stand Ground

Defiant Ukrainian protesters seized control of the capital's central post office Wednesday and stood their ground against riot police on the city's main square, a day after clashes that left at least 25 people dead and raised fears of prolonged violence.

The violence that also left hundreds injured was the worst in nearly three months of anti-government protests that have paralyzed Kiev, Ukraine's capital. The opposition and President Viktor Yanukovych's government are locked in a stalemate over the identity of their nation of 46 million, which is divided in its loyalties between Russia and the West.

In an ominous development, Ukraine's top security agency accused protesters Wednesday of seizing hundreds of firearms from its offices and announced a nationwide anti-terrorist operation to restore order. The Defense Ministry said the army could take part in the operation.

Demonstrators, meanwhile, forced their way into the post office on Independence Square, also known as the Maidan, after a nearby building they had previously occupied was burned down Tuesday in fierce, fiery clashes with riot police. Thousands of activists armed with fire bombs and rocks had defended the square Tuesday, which has become a key symbol of the protests.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/ukraine-25-killed-241-injured-kiev-clashes-22576532

I heard on the radio earlier this afternoon here in the UK that there are c. 700 seriously injured in hospital roughly divided 50/50 between protesters and police - many with serious burns.