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Ukraine crisis: Russia brands new leaders 'mutineers' | Ukraine crisis: Russia brands new leaders 'mutineers' |
(35 minutes later) | |
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has said he doubts the legitimacy of Ukraine's new authorities. | Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has said he doubts the legitimacy of Ukraine's new authorities. |
In the strongest Russian reaction yet to the political upheaval in Kiev, Mr Medvedev said those now in power had conducted an "armed mutiny". | In the strongest Russian reaction yet to the political upheaval in Kiev, Mr Medvedev said those now in power had conducted an "armed mutiny". |
He was speaking after Ukraine's interim interior minister said an arrest warrant had been issued for fugitive ousted President Viktor Yanukovych. | He was speaking after Ukraine's interim interior minister said an arrest warrant had been issued for fugitive ousted President Viktor Yanukovych. |
MPs voted to remove Mr Yanukovych on Saturday. | MPs voted to remove Mr Yanukovych on Saturday. |
Russia, angered at the loss of its political ally, has already recalled its ambassador for consultation. | Russia, angered at the loss of its political ally, has already recalled its ambassador for consultation. |
Unrest in Ukraine began in late November when Mr Yanukovych rejected a landmark association and trade deal with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia. | Unrest in Ukraine began in late November when Mr Yanukovych rejected a landmark association and trade deal with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia. |
Meanwhile, EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton has arrived in Kiev to discuss financial and political support for Ukraine's new leaders. | Meanwhile, EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton has arrived in Kiev to discuss financial and political support for Ukraine's new leaders. |
Ukraine is in danger of defaulting on its debts as a Russian aid package now seems unlikely to proceed. | Ukraine is in danger of defaulting on its debts as a Russian aid package now seems unlikely to proceed. |
Baroness Ashton began her visit by laying flowers in Independence Square to those killed in clashes between protesters and police. | |
Mr Medvedev, quoted by Russian news agencies, suggested that Western countries that accepted Ukraine's new authorities were mistaken. | Mr Medvedev, quoted by Russian news agencies, suggested that Western countries that accepted Ukraine's new authorities were mistaken. |
"Strictly speaking, there is no-one for us to communicate with there today," he said. | "Strictly speaking, there is no-one for us to communicate with there today," he said. |
"The legitimacy of a whole number of organs of power that function there raises great doubts. | "The legitimacy of a whole number of organs of power that function there raises great doubts. |
"Some of our foreign, Western partners think otherwise. This is some kind of aberration of perception when people call legitimate what is essentially the result of an armed mutiny." | "Some of our foreign, Western partners think otherwise. This is some kind of aberration of perception when people call legitimate what is essentially the result of an armed mutiny." |
Ukraine's parliament has until Tuesday to form a new unity government. | Ukraine's parliament has until Tuesday to form a new unity government. |
Interim interior minister Arsen Avakov said on Facebook that a criminal case had been opened against Mr Yanukovych and other officials over "mass murder of peaceful citizens". | Interim interior minister Arsen Avakov said on Facebook that a criminal case had been opened against Mr Yanukovych and other officials over "mass murder of peaceful citizens". |
The statement said Mr Yanukovych was last seen in Balaklava on the Crimean peninsula on Sunday. | The statement said Mr Yanukovych was last seen in Balaklava on the Crimean peninsula on Sunday. |
It said that after dismissing most of his security detail, he had left by car for an unknown destination, accompanied by an aide. | It said that after dismissing most of his security detail, he had left by car for an unknown destination, accompanied by an aide. |
The statement did not name the other figures covered by the warrant. | The statement did not name the other figures covered by the warrant. |
According to media reports, Mr Avakov and Valentyn Nalyvaychenko - appointed by parliament to oversee security matters - have travelled to Crimea to defuse tensions. | According to media reports, Mr Avakov and Valentyn Nalyvaychenko - appointed by parliament to oversee security matters - have travelled to Crimea to defuse tensions. |
The peninsula is an autonomous region where the majority of the population is ethnically Russian. | The peninsula is an autonomous region where the majority of the population is ethnically Russian. |
Crimea and some pro-Russian areas in the east have seen protests against the overthrow of Mr Yanukovych, sparking fears that Ukraine could be split apart by separatist movements. | Crimea and some pro-Russian areas in the east have seen protests against the overthrow of Mr Yanukovych, sparking fears that Ukraine could be split apart by separatist movements. |
Ukraine's health ministry says 88 people, mostly anti-Yanukovych protesters but also police, are now known to have been killed in last week's clashes. | Ukraine's health ministry says 88 people, mostly anti-Yanukovych protesters but also police, are now known to have been killed in last week's clashes. |
Thousands of people remain in Kiev's Independence Square, the Maidan. | Thousands of people remain in Kiev's Independence Square, the Maidan. |
Correspondents say the atmosphere in the square is now largely calm, and it has become a shrine to those killed. | Correspondents say the atmosphere in the square is now largely calm, and it has become a shrine to those killed. |
Mr Yanukovych insisted on Saturday that he was still Ukraine's legitimate leader but he had become increasingly isolated. | Mr Yanukovych insisted on Saturday that he was still Ukraine's legitimate leader but he had become increasingly isolated. |
Over the weekend, parliament voted to impeach him and hold presidential elections in May. | Over the weekend, parliament voted to impeach him and hold presidential elections in May. |
An EU statement said Catherine Ashton's visit on Monday was to discuss support "for a lasting solution to the political crisis and measures to stabilise the economic situation". | An EU statement said Catherine Ashton's visit on Monday was to discuss support "for a lasting solution to the political crisis and measures to stabilise the economic situation". |
Interim Finance Minister Yuriy Kolobov has said Ukraine needs around $35bn (£21bn) in urgent foreign aid and asked for an international donors' conference to be held. | Interim Finance Minister Yuriy Kolobov has said Ukraine needs around $35bn (£21bn) in urgent foreign aid and asked for an international donors' conference to be held. |
Moscow recently agreed to provide $15bn for Ukraine's struggling economy - a move seen as a reward for Mr Yanukovych's controversial decision not to sign the long-planned trade deal with the EU. | Moscow recently agreed to provide $15bn for Ukraine's struggling economy - a move seen as a reward for Mr Yanukovych's controversial decision not to sign the long-planned trade deal with the EU. |
But there are fears Moscow could withdraw that offer. Ukraine has state debts of some $73bn, with around $6bn to be paid this year. | But there are fears Moscow could withdraw that offer. Ukraine has state debts of some $73bn, with around $6bn to be paid this year. |