http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/02/world/europe/ukraine-expels-russian-naval-attache.html?_r=0

Putin Demands That Ukraine Pull Its Troops From Southeast

By NEIL MacFARQUHAR MAY 1, 2014 MOSCOW — President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia told Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany on Thursday that Ukraine must remove its military from the southeastern region of the country to resolve the showdown there with pro-Russian militants who have seized several official buildings, the Kremlin said. “Putin emphasized that it was imperative today to withdraw all military units from the southeastern regions, stop the violence and immediately launch a broad national dialogue as part of the constitutional reform process involving all regions and political forces,” the Russian government said in a statement. Russia has repeatedly blamed Ukraine for escalating the situation and has accused the government in Kiev of deploying 11,000 soldiers in the region. The acting Ukrainian president, Oleksandr V. Turchynov, said Wednesday that the security services had lost control of the region to armed separatists who have seized government buildings in about a dozen towns. On Thursday, Mr. Turchynov issued a decree reinstating military conscription, saying men 18 and above who have not reached their 25th birthday will be drafted. The decree, which is unlikely to have any immediate effect on Kiev’s efforts to bolster security, said the move was intended to halt the deterioration of public order, prevent the seizure of