7 Apr 2014
Pro-Russian demonstrators in three east Ukrainian cities demand referendum on independence
FXStreet (Łódź) - The Ukrainian-Russian crisis resumed with force during the weekend as the eastern part of Ukraine saw pro-Russian demonstrations erupting in three cities on Sunday, with the protesters taking over government buildings and demanding a referendum on independence.
In Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv pro-Russian supporters clashed with the police and stormed official buildings waving Russian flags. Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk called the protests a provocation aimed at destabilizing the situation in the country and making way for a Russian intervention.
"An anti-Ukrainian plan is being put into operation ... under which foreign troops will cross the border and seize the territory of the country,” the PM said at a cabinet meeting on Monday. "We will not allow this."
Furthermore, during the weekend Ukraine announced that it would not pay the higher price for gas set by Gazprom last week, at 485.50 dollars per 1000 cubic meters. PM Yatseniuk said that they would continue purchasing it for 268 dollars per 1000 cubic meters.
"Russia has not managed to grab Ukraine through military aggression, so now they are pursuing a plan to pressure and grab Ukraine through gas and economic aggression," said Yatsenyuk.
The increase in the price of gas has impacted the Ukrainian hryvnia which is on the path to post the world's largest loss this year. It has already weakened by 27% to 11.345 per dollar in 2014 and is expected to fall further.
In Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv pro-Russian supporters clashed with the police and stormed official buildings waving Russian flags. Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk called the protests a provocation aimed at destabilizing the situation in the country and making way for a Russian intervention.
"An anti-Ukrainian plan is being put into operation ... under which foreign troops will cross the border and seize the territory of the country,” the PM said at a cabinet meeting on Monday. "We will not allow this."
Furthermore, during the weekend Ukraine announced that it would not pay the higher price for gas set by Gazprom last week, at 485.50 dollars per 1000 cubic meters. PM Yatseniuk said that they would continue purchasing it for 268 dollars per 1000 cubic meters.
"Russia has not managed to grab Ukraine through military aggression, so now they are pursuing a plan to pressure and grab Ukraine through gas and economic aggression," said Yatsenyuk.
The increase in the price of gas has impacted the Ukrainian hryvnia which is on the path to post the world's largest loss this year. It has already weakened by 27% to 11.345 per dollar in 2014 and is expected to fall further.