Eastern parts of Ukraine still tense

Eastern parts of Ukraine still tense

On Sunday pro-Russian activists occupied the headquarters of the police in Odessa. During the night, thousands of supporters of the Ukrainian authorities, among whom about 50 members of the nationalist paramilitary movement the Right Sector, gathered in the streets.

On Friday 46 people were killed in this town in clashes between supporters of a united Ukraine, and the pro-Russian supporters of federalization. Among the victims were "dozens of members of the pro-Russian forces," the reports said.

According to AFP, "the violence began when several hundred pro-Russian separatists attacked a procession of supporters of the pro-European authorities in Kiev." According to this, the pro-Russian protesters then "barricaded themselves in the Trade Union Hall, where, under unclear circumstances, a fire broke out."

According to some reports, "the building was set on fire by supporters of the pro-European government in Kiev."

In Slavyansk, the demonstrators, referred to as "pro-Russian militants" seem to be preparing for an attack of the Ukrainian army by preparing Molotov cocktails, a message posted by the BBC on Twitter shows.

During this time, diplomatic efforts to solve the Ukrainian crisis continue. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said last night after a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, that under the auspices of the OSCE Putin would on Wednesday discuss Ukraine with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland and OSCE Chairman Didier Burkhalter.

After the telephone conversation Moscow said that Putin stressed it was necessary to establish a direct dialogue between the authorities in Kiev and representative of the southeast regions, where pro-Russian activists have organized a revolt.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called on Monday for a new meeting to be held in Geneva that would provide "clear agreements to end the conflict."