Crisis In Ukraine -- News Updates March 5, 2014

Britain To Pay £1 BILLION In Aid To Ukraine As Russian Flag Torn Down In Flashpoint Eastern City And Putin's Navy Blockades Port -- Daily Mail

* Pro-Russian protesters removed from Ukrainian government building following reports they had rigged bombs
* Russian flag removed from the roof of the building in the eastern city of Donetsk and Ukrainian flag reinstated
* Vladimir Putin's navy blocks access to Sevastapol port in fresh show of strength outside its Black Sea base
* Now new Ukraine PM says Crimea may be granted new local powers in exchange for remaining part of the country
* Developments come as EU announces £11billion aid package for Ukraine - including £1billion from Britain
* Meanwhile EU warns Moscow that billions belonging to Putin and his oligarch allies could be seized tomorrow
* Russia responded by threatening EU and U.S. with economic, trade and visa restrictions if sanctions are issued
* Russian Foreign Minister says people in Crimea do not recognise the new 'unconstitutional' Ukrainian government

Ukraine's new government is to be offered a multi-billion aid package by the European Union, with an estimated £1 billion coming from Britain.

The cash, made up of grants and loans totalling €11 billion (£9 billion), was approved by European ministers today at a meeting which also set out sanctions which could be brought against Russia if it steps up its military involvement in Ukraine - including seizing President Vladimir Putin's own assets and those of his oligarch allies.

In Ukraine itself tensions a new flashpoint emerged in Donetsk, in the east of the country, where riot police stormed the city hall and removed pro-Russian protesters, then raised the Ukrainian flag, while in the Black Sea at Sevastapol, the Russian navy blockaded the port in a show of strength.

Read more ....

Crisis In Ukraine: Live Updates

Ukraine Crisis: Live -- BBC
Ukraine crisis: Russia to hold talks with US after Putin and Obama trade accusations - live updates -- The Guardian
Ukraine turmoil LIVE UPDATES -- RT
Ukraine crisis: US and Russia hold talks - live -- The Telegraph
Ukraine Live Blog -- The Telegraph
Crisis in Ukraine Live -- CNN
[Live updates] Ukraine gives green light to international monitors’ mission -- Euronews
Crisis in Ukraine -- Reuters
UkrainianConflict Live Thread -- Reddit

More News On The Crisis In Ukraine

Foreign Ministers Meet Over Ukraine, as EU Offers Aid -- Wall Street Journal
US and Russia hold talks on Ukraine crisis -- RTE News
Ukraine crisis talks expected in Paris -- USA Today
Ukraine crisis: Diplomacy gathers pace ahead of talks -- BBC
US, Russia to meet for first time on Ukraine -- Al Jazeera

OSCE military observer mission en route to Crimea -- RT
Ukraine looks for 'sign of hope' from Russia over Crimea -- CNN
Ukraine premier: Crimea will remain in Ukraine -- AP
Russia Defies West’s Crimea Pleas as EU Offers Ukraine Aid -- Bloomberg
Russia refuses to order Crimea troops to pull back in talks with US -- The Guardian
Foreign minister denies presence of Russian troops in Crimea ahead of meeting with Kerry -- FOX News
Russian FM: Western Support for Ukrainian Protests a 'Bad Example' -- Voice of America
Russia rebuffs West on Crimea ahead of Paris talks -- Reuters
Diplomatic exit? Ukraine players converge on Paris -- AP
Ukraine crisis: Western leaders pile pressure on Russia -- CNN
Standoffs persist in Crimea as Kerry prepares to meet Russian counterpart -- Washington Post
Deep divisions split Donetsk as tensions simmer across Ukraine -- The Guardian
Pro-Russian crowd tries to retake building in Ukraine's Donetsk -- Reuters
Crimea Rejects Talks with Ukraine Leadership -- RIA Novosti
Ukraine premier to AP: Crimea must remain in Ukraine, but may get more autonomy -- AP
Russian propaganda and Ukrainian rumour fuel anger and hate in Crimea -- The Guardian
Ukrainian crisis: ‘Propaganda war rolls on’ -- RT

Stop gun barrel politics, John Kerry warns Vladimir Putin -- The Telegraph
US condemns Russian 'aggression' in Crimea -- Al Jazeera
Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama engage in war of words over Ukraine -- The Guardian
Putin, Obama Talk Tough on Ukraine -- Wall Street Journal
Ukraine crisis: Vladimir Putin is not 'unhinged', White House says -- The Telegraph

EU Plans No Sanctions on Russia for Now – Russian Envoy -- RIA Novosti
US, EU push for Russia sanctions over Ukraine -- AP
U.S. prepared to place unilateral sanctions on Russian officials, businesses -- Washington Post
Putin urges measures to protect trade group from Ukraine fallout -- Reuters
Russia's Putin says hopes political tension won't hurt economic ties -- Reuters

Russia to End Discount on Gas Sales to Ukraine -- Voice of America
Gazprom Says Ukraine Gas Debt Set to Hit $2Bln -- RIA Novosti

EU to provide Ukraine with aid worth $15 billion -- AP
E.U. to Offer Billions in Aid to Ukraine as Russia and U.S. Set to Meet -- New York Times
EU Offers Ukraine $15Bln in Aid for Reform Program -- RIA Novosti
EU ready to provide 11 billion euros of financial aid to Ukraine -- Reuters
EU to provide Ukraine with $15B aid package, will freeze assets of Ukrainians for fund misuse -- FOX News
The West's $15 billion pitch to keep Ukraine in the fold -- CNN

Germany ready to help Ukraine financially: Schaeuble -- Reuters
Ukraine crisis: Germany's Russian conundrum -- BBC
Germany sees no change in Crimea as action against Russia looms -- Reuters

Timeline: Ukraine's political crisis -- Al Jazeera
Another odd day in Russia-occupied Ukraine -- Sabra Ayres, Christian Science Monitor
Ukraine crisis: Does Russia have a case? -- BBC
Analysts: Russia unlikely to pull back in Crimea -- Julie Pace, AP
Don't panic -- Why I'm confident Putin, Western leaders won't escalate Ukraine crisis -- Michael O’Hanlon, FOX News
Ukraine resistance proves problem for Russia -- Christian Fraser, BBC
A divided Ukraine? Think again -- Maia Mikhaluk, CNN
Ukraine Crisis: What You Need to Know Now -- Daniel Arkin, NBC
Ukraine crisis: What are Putin's calculations? -- Steve Rosenberg, BBC