NATO: Russia can achieve its goals in Ukraine without invading / Putin Calls on Ukrainian Federalists to Put Off May 11 Vote

On the 4 May 2014, Germany urged Russia and Ukraine to come back to negotiations in Geneva after a deadly fire in Odessa had further stoked the tensions in Ukraine.

NATO's top military commander in Europe said on the 6 May 2014 that he no longer thought regular Russian troops would enter eastern Ukraine, predicting Moscow could achieve its goals through the unconventional forces stirring up trouble there.

The EU reported on the 8 May 2014 that European Council President Herman Van Rompuy would go to Ukraine on the 12 May 2014 to discuss how to stabilise the situation there before the presidential election on the 25 May 2014.

Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov ruled out on the 6 May 2014 holding fresh talks in Geneva to defuse the Ukraine crisis, unless pro-Russian opposition groups were involved.

Preparations continued amongst pro-Russia activists for a referendum to be held on the 11 May 2014 in the eastern part of Ukraine demanding the right for self-determination. However, preparations also continued for a presidential election in the whole of Ukraine on the 25 May 2014.

Russian President Vladimir Putin urged on the 7 May 2014 pro-federalisation activists in southeastern Ukraine to postpone a unofficial referendum on self-determination planned for the 11 May 2014 to ensure the start of nationwide dialogue. He was speaking at a joint press conference with OSCE Chairman Didier Burkhalter in Moscow.

The BBC and other news sources also reported what appeared to be a shift in Russian policy, Mr Putin said the planned 25 May 2014 presidential elections in Ukraine were a move 'in the right direction'. President Putin also announced he was ordering Russian troops back from the Ukrainian border.

However, pro-Russian activists in eastern Ukraine decided to go ahead with the independence referendum on the 11 May 2014, despite the call from President Putin to postpone it. Preparations for the ballot proceeded in the Donetsk region.

• Primary Source

EUObserver, 06.05.14: Nato: Russia unlikely to invade Ukraine http://euobserver.com/defence/124021

EUObserver, 05.05.14: Germany urges Russia and Ukraine to resume talks http://euobserver.com/foreign/124005

ESO: Background information: Ukraine's government has lost control of east, says acting president http://www.europeansources.info/record/ukraines-government-has-lost-control-of-east-says-acting-president/

ESO: Key Source: Euromaidan - Protests in Ukraine 2013 - 2015 - Key source http://www.europeansources.info/record/euromaidan-protests-in-ukraine-2013-2015/

BBC News, 06.05.14: Ukraine crisis: Russia rules out new Geneva talks http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27289897

ESO: Key source: Ukrainian presidential election, 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/ukrainian-presidential-election-2014/

ESO: Background information: EU, US, Ukraine and Russia to meet on 17 April 2014 in Geneva / Geneva Statement on Ukraine http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-eu-us-ukraine-and-russia-to-meet-on-17-april-2014-in-geneva-geneva-statement-on-ukraine/

Deutsche Welle, 06.05.14: Ukraine on the brink of civil war [Ukraine] http://dw.de/p/1BuiH

RIA Novosti, 06.05.14: Ukrainian Parliament Votes Against Referendum on Decentralization http://en.ria.ru/world/20140506/189621775/Ukrainian-Parliament-Votes-Against-Referendum-on.html

RIA Novosti, 06.05.14: Kiev Committing Genocide of Russian, Ukrainian People – Russian Official http://en.ria.ru/world/20140506/189616500/Kiev-Committing-Genocide-of-Russian-Ukrainian-People--Russian.html

Deutsche Welle, 07.05.14: NATO members mull rearmament http://dw.de/p/1BuoK

The Guardian, 06.05.14: Ukraine crisis worsens amid intense fighting and warnings of civil war http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/06/ukraine-crisis-worsens-intense-fighting-warnings-civil-war

RIA Novosti, 07.05.14: Putin Calls on Ukrainian Federalists to Put Off May 11 Vote http://en.ria.ru/russia/20140507/189651313/Putin-Calls-on-Ukrainian-Federalists-to-Put-Off-May-11-Vote.html

EUObserver, 07.05.14: EU and US draw new red line on Ukraine http://euobserver.com/foreign/124041

BBC News, 08.05.14: Pro-Russia rebel vote to go ahead http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27320806

EU: EEAS: Press Release, 07.05.14: Remarks by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton following her meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry, 06.05.14 http://eeas.europa.eu/statements/docs/2014/140507_01_en.pdf

EurActiv, 08.05.14: EU prepares more sanctions against Russia http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/eu-prepares-more-sanctions-against-russia-301998

EurActiv, 08.05.14: NATO helps secure strategic infrastructure in Ukraine http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/nato-helps-secure-strategic-infrastructure-ukraine-301999

EUObserver, 08.05.14: West sceptical of Putin’s u-turn on Ukraine http://euobserver.com/foreign/124056

The Guardian, 08.05.14: Putin says eastern Ukraine referendum on autonomy should be postponed http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/07/ukraine-crisis-putin-referendum-autonomy-postponed

Deutsche Welle, 07.05.14: OSCE chief Burkhalter makes progress with Putin on Ukraine http://dw.de/p/1Bv8a

Euro|Topics, 08.05.14: Putin pushes to postpone referendum http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER143094-Putin-pushes-to-postpone-referendum

Council of the European Union: Press Release, PRES/14/93: Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, meets OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Didier Burkhalter, on the situation in Ukraine http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/142522.pdf

BBC News, 08.05.14: Donetsk gears up for independence referendum http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27315605

Kyiv Post, 08.05.14: Victory Day celebrations curtailed because of fears of war, violence http://www.kyivpost.com/content/kyiv/victory-day-celebrations-curtailed-because-of-fears-of-war-violence-346978.html

RIA Novosti, 08.05.14: Russia Receives OSCE Roadmap on Ukraine Crisis http://en.ria.ru/russia/20140508/189674886/Russia-Receives-OSCE-Roadmap-on-Ukraine-Crisis.html

EUObserver, 09.05.14: EU targets more Russian names, firms ahead of 'long weekend' http://euobserver.com/foreign/124073

EurActiv, 09.05.14: Van Rompuy flies to Ukraine to secure 25 May elections http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/van-rompuy-flies-ukraine-secure-25-may-elections-302029

Euro|Topics, 09.05.14: Separatists insist on referendum http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER143177-Separatists-insist-on-referendum

---