10 May 2014

Merkel and Hollande issue warning to Moscow

Germany and France have warned Russia that it will face “appropriate consequences” if the 25 May election in Ukraine does not go ahead as planned.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande warned Russia in a joint statement that there could be further sanctions if the elections do not go ahead.

The two leaders declared: “If there is not an internationally recognised presidential election, that would lead unavoidably to a further destabilisation of the country.

“Germany and France are in agreement that if that is the case then corresponding consequences would be drawn as outlined by the European Council on March 6, 2014.”

This is a reference to the third stage of sanctions agreed by European Union leaders.

Speaking to reporters after the statement was released, Mrs Merkel said that if the May 25 elections fail then “we are ready to take further sanctions against Russia”.

Germany and France also called upon all sides to start disarming irregular forces by May 15 at the latest. All parties are called upon to cease acts of violence.

Independence referendum

Pro-Russian separatists in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic intend to hold a referendum on the eastern region’s independence from Ukraine tomorrow.

The Ukrainian army’s military operation continues in the east while on Friday deadly fighting took place in Mariupol.

Russian president Vladimir Putin made his first visit to Crimea yesterday since Russia took control from Ukraine in March, celebrating the anniversary of the end of World War II.

Red Cross workers were held hostage for seven hours in the city of Donetsk, a local Red Cross official has warned.

A spokesman for the Donetsk People’s Republic said the workers had been detained on Friday evening by rebel activists on suspicion of espionage.

“They were released at 2pm. One had beeen heavily beaten,” Red Cross official Irina Tsaryuk said.

Newspaper Novosti Donbassa said the hostage-takers had also seized large stores of medicine from the Donetsk office.

The Red Cross website said medication had been delivered on 7 May to Donetsk head office for distribution in the region, where there has been heavy fighting in recent days between pro-Russian militants and Ukrainian security forces.