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Ukraine PM says Russia wants to 'restore Soviet Union' | Ukraine PM says Russia wants to 'restore Soviet Union' |
(35 minutes later) | |
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has accused Russia of wanting to "eliminate" his country and restore the Soviet Union. | Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has accused Russia of wanting to "eliminate" his country and restore the Soviet Union. |
He said Ukraine was "still in a stage of war" with the "key aggressor" being Russia. | He said Ukraine was "still in a stage of war" with the "key aggressor" being Russia. |
Ukraine and Western countries accuse Russia of intervening on the side of pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine. Russia denies this. | Ukraine and Western countries accuse Russia of intervening on the side of pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine. Russia denies this. |
A fragile ceasefire has been in place since 5 September. | A fragile ceasefire has been in place since 5 September. |
"His goal is to take the entire Ukraine," Mr Yatsenyuk said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. | "His goal is to take the entire Ukraine," Mr Yatsenyuk said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. |
He said Nato was the "only vehicle" to protect Ukraine, although he added he understood Ukraine could not join the alliance in the short term. | He said Nato was the "only vehicle" to protect Ukraine, although he added he understood Ukraine could not join the alliance in the short term. |
Also on Saturday morning, Russian customs officials said that a Russian aid convoy had crossed into eastern Ukraine. | Also on Saturday morning, Russian customs officials said that a Russian aid convoy had crossed into eastern Ukraine. |
An similar convoy entered the country last month without Ukraine's permission, sparking condemnation from the US and the EU. | An similar convoy entered the country last month without Ukraine's permission, sparking condemnation from the US and the EU. |
'Hostile step' | 'Hostile step' |
Mr Yatsenyuk's comments come after the US government imposed new sanctions on major Russian banks, defence and energy companies. | Mr Yatsenyuk's comments come after the US government imposed new sanctions on major Russian banks, defence and energy companies. |
The measures are part of a joint effort with the European Union aimed at punishing Russia for what they say is its military intervention in Ukraine. | The measures are part of a joint effort with the European Union aimed at punishing Russia for what they say is its military intervention in Ukraine. |
The Russian foreign ministry denounced the new sanctions as "another hostile step in line with the confrontational course" taken by the US, and promised retaliatory measures. | The Russian foreign ministry denounced the new sanctions as "another hostile step in line with the confrontational course" taken by the US, and promised retaliatory measures. |
The sanctions announced on Friday mean that US citizens will not be able to provide loans lasting longer than 30 days to Sberbank, Russia's biggest bank. | The sanctions announced on Friday mean that US citizens will not be able to provide loans lasting longer than 30 days to Sberbank, Russia's biggest bank. |
They will also affect Rostec, a major technology and defence firm, and technology for Russia's oil industry. | They will also affect Rostec, a major technology and defence firm, and technology for Russia's oil industry. |
Both the EU and US say the sanctions can be eased if progress is made on the ground towards peace. | Both the EU and US say the sanctions can be eased if progress is made on the ground towards peace. |
Nato says Russia still has about 1,000 heavily armed troops in eastern Ukraine and about 20,000 more near the border. | Nato says Russia still has about 1,000 heavily armed troops in eastern Ukraine and about 20,000 more near the border. |
Russia denies sending direct military help to the rebels, insisting that any Russian soldiers there are "volunteers". | Russia denies sending direct military help to the rebels, insisting that any Russian soldiers there are "volunteers". |
More than 100 top Russian officials and rebel leaders in Ukraine are subject to EU and US visa bans and asset freezes. | More than 100 top Russian officials and rebel leaders in Ukraine are subject to EU and US visa bans and asset freezes. |
The US sanctions block support or technology for Arctic and offshore exploration by five Russian energy firms - Gazprom, Lukoil, Rosneft, Surgutneftegaz and Transneft. | The US sanctions block support or technology for Arctic and offshore exploration by five Russian energy firms - Gazprom, Lukoil, Rosneft, Surgutneftegaz and Transneft. |
Rosneft was already listed under a previous round of sanctions and is included in the EU sanctions list. | Rosneft was already listed under a previous round of sanctions and is included in the EU sanctions list. |
Russia has ambitious plans for Arctic oil exploration. Western partners including ExxonMobil and BP are already involved in multi-billion-dollar projects in Siberia. | Russia has ambitious plans for Arctic oil exploration. Western partners including ExxonMobil and BP are already involved in multi-billion-dollar projects in Siberia. |
The EU sanctions also block the export of oil services and deep-water technology. Transneft is also on the EU list, along with Gazprom Neft, the oil unit of gas giant Gazprom. | The EU sanctions also block the export of oil services and deep-water technology. Transneft is also on the EU list, along with Gazprom Neft, the oil unit of gas giant Gazprom. |
Their access to financial markets will be restricted - a serious matter for Rosneft, which last month asked the Russian government for a $42bn (£25.2bn) loan. | Their access to financial markets will be restricted - a serious matter for Rosneft, which last month asked the Russian government for a $42bn (£25.2bn) loan. |
In the EU and US, big Russian state-owned banks are now barred from getting loans with a maturity longer than one month. | In the EU and US, big Russian state-owned banks are now barred from getting loans with a maturity longer than one month. |
Are you in eastern Ukraine? Email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |