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| Ukraine crisis: May election 'will play crucial role' | Ukraine crisis: May election 'will play crucial role' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has said Ukraine's 25 May presidential vote will be "crucial" in bringing the country out of its crisis. | German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has said Ukraine's 25 May presidential vote will be "crucial" in bringing the country out of its crisis. |
| Mr Steinmeier is in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, amid fresh attempts to find a diplomatic solution. | Mr Steinmeier is in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, amid fresh attempts to find a diplomatic solution. |
| On Monday, pro-Russia activists in the east declared a separate state with a view to joining Russia, after holding votes on self-rule on Sunday. | On Monday, pro-Russia activists in the east declared a separate state with a view to joining Russia, after holding votes on self-rule on Sunday. |
| Kiev, the US and EU say the referendums in Donetsk and Luhansk were illegal. | Kiev, the US and EU say the referendums in Donetsk and Luhansk were illegal. |
| In Kiev, Mr Steinmeier met acting Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya. | In Kiev, Mr Steinmeier met acting Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya. |
| He said he hoped steps in Ukraine would "bring back occupied territory, disarm armed groups step by step, and reinstall the authority of the state". | He said he hoped steps in Ukraine would "bring back occupied territory, disarm armed groups step by step, and reinstall the authority of the state". |
| In a separate development, Russian media quoted Luhansk separatists as saying that the self-declared governor of the region had been wounded in an assassination attempt. | In a separate development, Russian media quoted Luhansk separatists as saying that the self-declared governor of the region had been wounded in an assassination attempt. |
| Valery Bolotov was shot and had lost a lot of blood, but his life was not in danger, the press office of the self-declared "Luhansk People's Republic" said. | Valery Bolotov was shot and had lost a lot of blood, but his life was not in danger, the press office of the self-declared "Luhansk People's Republic" said. |
| Fresh sanctions | Fresh sanctions |
| Later, the Russian foreign ministry said fresh EU sanctions would hinder efforts to defuse the crisis. | Later, the Russian foreign ministry said fresh EU sanctions would hinder efforts to defuse the crisis. |
| It urged the West to persuade Kiev to hold discussions on Ukraine's future structure and regional rights before the 25 May election. | It urged the West to persuade Kiev to hold discussions on Ukraine's future structure and regional rights before the 25 May election. |
| The results of Sunday's referendums "should be a clear signal to Kiev of the depth of the crisis" in Ukraine, it said in a statement. | The results of Sunday's referendums "should be a clear signal to Kiev of the depth of the crisis" in Ukraine, it said in a statement. |
| On Monday, the EU added 13 people and two businesses to its sanctions list for "undermining or threatening" Ukraine's sovereignty. | On Monday, the EU added 13 people and two businesses to its sanctions list for "undermining or threatening" Ukraine's sovereignty. |
| Meanwhile, the Kiev-appointed governor of Donetsk, Serhiy Taruta, said at a news conference in Donetsk that there were plans for a nationwide referendum on devolving more powers to the regions. | Meanwhile, the Kiev-appointed governor of Donetsk, Serhiy Taruta, said at a news conference in Donetsk that there were plans for a nationwide referendum on devolving more powers to the regions. |
| He said this could be held in mid-June and that members of the national parliament in Kiev might discuss it on Tuesday, reports the BBC's Richard Galpin in Donetsk. | He said this could be held in mid-June and that members of the national parliament in Kiev might discuss it on Tuesday, reports the BBC's Richard Galpin in Donetsk. |
| Mr Taruta also said the self-declared "People's Republic of Donetsk" did not exist legally or politically, and that the Donetsk region could not survive economically as an independent territory. | Mr Taruta also said the self-declared "People's Republic of Donetsk" did not exist legally or politically, and that the Donetsk region could not survive economically as an independent territory. |
| Earlier, a separatist leader called on Russia to "absorb" the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk. | Earlier, a separatist leader called on Russia to "absorb" the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk. |
| Armed separatists remain in control of many official buildings across eastern Ukraine. | Armed separatists remain in control of many official buildings across eastern Ukraine. |
| Meanwhile, Russia's gas company, Gazprom, has asked Ukraine to pay $1.66bn (£1bn) for gas deliveries in June. | Meanwhile, Russia's gas company, Gazprom, has asked Ukraine to pay $1.66bn (£1bn) for gas deliveries in June. |
| "Taking into an account non-working days, [Ukrainian gas company] Naftogaz should pay this bill by 2 June and, starting from 3 June, the company will be getting gas... only at the volumes paid for," Gazprom said in a statement. | "Taking into an account non-working days, [Ukrainian gas company] Naftogaz should pay this bill by 2 June and, starting from 3 June, the company will be getting gas... only at the volumes paid for," Gazprom said in a statement. |
| Gazprom says Ukraine owes it $3.5bn. It recently doubled the price Ukraine must pay for gas - a move that Kiev has refused to accept. | Gazprom says Ukraine owes it $3.5bn. It recently doubled the price Ukraine must pay for gas - a move that Kiev has refused to accept. |
| Moscow annexed Ukraine's southern autonomous republic of Crimea in March following a controversial referendum. | Moscow annexed Ukraine's southern autonomous republic of Crimea in March following a controversial referendum. |
| The Ukrainian government fears a similar outcome in Donetsk, Luhansk and parts of southern Ukraine. | The Ukrainian government fears a similar outcome in Donetsk, Luhansk and parts of southern Ukraine. |
| Mr Steinmeier's trip is to support a national "round table" under the auspices of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). | Mr Steinmeier's trip is to support a national "round table" under the auspices of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). |
| The OSCE has issued a statement saying Russian President Vladimir Putin was "supportive" of its roadmap to defuse the crisis. | The OSCE has issued a statement saying Russian President Vladimir Putin was "supportive" of its roadmap to defuse the crisis. |
| Germany, France and the UK have suggested that Russia would be further punished if it undermined Ukraine's planned presidential elections on 25 May. | Germany, France and the UK have suggested that Russia would be further punished if it undermined Ukraine's planned presidential elections on 25 May. |
| Separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk say 89% and 96% respectively voted in favour of "self-rule" in the referendums. | Separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk say 89% and 96% respectively voted in favour of "self-rule" in the referendums. |
| Nato believes some 40,000 Russian troops are deployed near Ukraine's border, although Moscow says they have been pulled back. | Nato believes some 40,000 Russian troops are deployed near Ukraine's border, although Moscow says they have been pulled back. |