The crisis unfolded in the aftermath of the Ukrainian Revolution. On 21 February 2014 President Viktor Yanukovych fled the Ukrainian capital Kiev. The Ukrainian parliament officially removed him from power him the next day, and appointed an interim President, Oleksandr Turchynov, who formed an interim government.
From the end of February 2014, demonstrations by pro-Russian and anti-government groups took place in major cities across the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine, in the aftermath of the Euromaidan movement and the 2014 Ukrainian revolution.
Continue reading the main story Pro-Russian rebels control broad swathes of eastern Ukraine and a fragile ceasefire with government forces could end at any time and return the region to deadly conflict. Ukraine's Western allies accuse Russia of sending in troops and armour to help the rebels - an allegation repeatedly denied by the government in Moscow.
MOSCOW (AP) - Russia's foreign policy chief on Wednesday claimed that Ukraine's decision to freeze budget payments to the eastern rebel-held territories could be a precursor to a military onslaught. Ukrainian officials announced earlier this month that they will freeze the $2.6 billion in state support to the areas now in rebel hands, which could further worsen the deplorable economic situation there.
Ukraine and Russia clashed over how to move toward a new cease-fire agreement, after President Petro Poroshenko said his country is ready for "total war" with President Vladimir Putin 's forces. As NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg criticized Russia for staging a "serious military buildup" and sending troops and weapons across its border, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk advocated new "Geneva format" talks including the U.S.
Prague, April 25 (ČTK) - A possible escalation of the Ukrainian developments might prompt the biggest maneuvers of the Czech military since 09/11, including the transfer of troops to the borders and strategic plants, daily Hospodařské noviny (HN) writes today, citing chief-of-staff General Petr Pavel.
