This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/vladimir-putin-wants-to-eliminate-ukraine-claims-ukrainian-pm-10395703.html
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Vladimir Putin wants to 'eliminate Ukraine – I have no doubt', claims Ukrainian PM | |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| The Prime Minister of Ukraine has claimed that Vladimir Putin is trying to “eliminate Ukraine” as conflict continues between government troops and rebels. | The Prime Minister of Ukraine has claimed that Vladimir Putin is trying to “eliminate Ukraine” as conflict continues between government troops and rebels. |
| Russia has persistently denied supporting separatist fighters in eastern Ukraine with money and weaponry but Arseniy Yatsenyuk said there was irrefutable evidence of the presence of Russian fighters and equipment. | Russia has persistently denied supporting separatist fighters in eastern Ukraine with money and weaponry but Arseniy Yatsenyuk said there was irrefutable evidence of the presence of Russian fighters and equipment. |
| Speaking to The Times yesterday, on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, he claimed “tens of thousands” of soldiers and guerrillas were in Donetsk and Luhansk with Russian-supplied tanks and missiles. | Speaking to The Times yesterday, on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, he claimed “tens of thousands” of soldiers and guerrillas were in Donetsk and Luhansk with Russian-supplied tanks and missiles. |
| “Putin's aim is to kill the Ukrainian project, just to eliminate Ukraine — I have no doubt,” he said, “For Putin, Ukraine is the battlefield against the free world.” | “Putin's aim is to kill the Ukrainian project, just to eliminate Ukraine — I have no doubt,” he said, “For Putin, Ukraine is the battlefield against the free world.” |
| Mr Yatsenyuk, who rose to his post after the ousting of President Viktor Yanukovych in February last year, said he was “absolutely sure” that MH17 was shot down by “Russian-led terrorists”, possibly with the help of Russian soldiers. | Mr Yatsenyuk, who rose to his post after the ousting of President Viktor Yanukovych in February last year, said he was “absolutely sure” that MH17 was shot down by “Russian-led terrorists”, possibly with the help of Russian soldiers. |
| Ukraine is among countries including the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium and Malaysia calling for an international tribunal on the disaster that killed 298 people a year ago today. | Ukraine is among countries including the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium and Malaysia calling for an international tribunal on the disaster that killed 298 people a year ago today. |
| Philip Hammond supported the calls while offering his condolences to everyone affected by the disaster and promising the Government’s support for families of the 10 Britons who died. | Philip Hammond supported the calls while offering his condolences to everyone affected by the disaster and promising the Government’s support for families of the 10 Britons who died. |
| “Justice must be delivered for the 298 innocent people who lost their lives,” the Foreign Secretary said. | “Justice must be delivered for the 298 innocent people who lost their lives,” the Foreign Secretary said. |
| “That requires an international tribunal, backed by a resolution binding all UN member states, to prosecute those responsible. | “That requires an international tribunal, backed by a resolution binding all UN member states, to prosecute those responsible. |
| “Any attempt to undermine this process would deprive the victims of justice and cannot be tolerated.” Rebels have said Russian troops joined them in Ukraine voluntarily while on 'holiday' | “Any attempt to undermine this process would deprive the victims of justice and cannot be tolerated.” Rebels have said Russian troops joined them in Ukraine voluntarily while on 'holiday' |
| A UN resolution would bind all member states to bring charges against whoever shot down MH17 but Russia is expected to use its veto on the Security Council to prevent the tribunal. | A UN resolution would bind all member states to bring charges against whoever shot down MH17 but Russia is expected to use its veto on the Security Council to prevent the tribunal. |
| In a phone call with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte yesterday, Mr Putin said it would be “premature and counterproductive” before initial investigations were completed, according to a Kremlin statement. | In a phone call with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte yesterday, Mr Putin said it would be “premature and counterproductive” before initial investigations were completed, according to a Kremlin statement. |
| Mr Rutte had said the move would give “the best guarantee of cooperation from all countries” in seeking justice for the families of the victims. | Mr Rutte had said the move would give “the best guarantee of cooperation from all countries” in seeking justice for the families of the victims. |
| On the day the Boeing 777 went down, a post attributed to a rebel leader claimed separatists had shot down a Ukrainian military transport plane in Donetsk. A photograph released by Ukraine’s security services claiming to prove that Russian-made BUK-M1 surface-to-air missile systems were inside the rebel-held area near the crash site | On the day the Boeing 777 went down, a post attributed to a rebel leader claimed separatists had shot down a Ukrainian military transport plane in Donetsk. A photograph released by Ukraine’s security services claiming to prove that Russian-made BUK-M1 surface-to-air missile systems were inside the rebel-held area near the crash site |
| The swiftly-deleted post, accompanied by a video of rising smoke, said: “We warned them - don’t fly in our sky.” | The swiftly-deleted post, accompanied by a video of rising smoke, said: “We warned them - don’t fly in our sky.” |
| Separatist forces operating around the crash site in Hrabove have since denied any involvement but Russian rebel leader Igor Girkin has been named in a lawsuit seeking $900 million (£575 million) in damages for the families of 18 passengers – six of them British. | Separatist forces operating around the crash site in Hrabove have since denied any involvement but Russian rebel leader Igor Girkin has been named in a lawsuit seeking $900 million (£575 million) in damages for the families of 18 passengers – six of them British. |
| The Netherlands is leading the criminal investigation into the downing of MH17 as most of the passengers were Dutch and a final report on the cause of the crash is due to be released in October by the Dutch Safety Board. | The Netherlands is leading the criminal investigation into the downing of MH17 as most of the passengers were Dutch and a final report on the cause of the crash is due to be released in October by the Dutch Safety Board. |