>> the crisis in eastern ukraine, underway in geneva, and the president said he doesn't have to use military force. you're watching aljazeera live from our headquarters. tears, anger and frustration in south korea as rescuers frantically work to find nearly 300 people after a ferry capsizes. and genocide. wiping out parts of the city.

and china takes on wall street. it's version of twitter and facebook goes on public offering. three of the most influential foreigners in the world have sat down with the ukraine foreign minister in geneva, trying to find a way out of the crisis. the united states, european union and ukraine gathered at the table for the first time. statements are expected soon. a look at what they're likely to discuss at those talks. russia is pushing for federalization to give eastern regions more power, and the west said that will lead to rule from moscow. they have threatened more sanctions against russia, and it will hurt all sides if russia retaliates.

holding gas as europe's main supplier. >> . >> nato is increasing it's presence around eastern europe. nick joins us live, and it looks like the talks are running longer than expected, looking at your crystal ball, is that a good sign. >> we could interpret that others a possible good sign, they might have adjourned earlier, with no statement of any kind being presented, but what kind of negotiations have been making place, is up to now something that has been kept behind closed doors. perhaps they're aware of the risk of derailing them by any untoward comment when the two sides have such radically different versions of what's going on in the ukraine, who is to blame for the instability. with of course the united states, the european union and

ukraine saying russia is to blame for the takeover of the administrative buildings in southeast ukraine by sending in of secret service acts. and this is the allegation, especially with the special forces troops who are not wearing their insignias, and mixing in with the population and taking over with the ukrainian army, which could allow, at least in russia's eyes, a justifiable intervention of the russian army. so we're waiting to see what kind of communique could be coming up. but it's about federalization, and the autonomy that the ukraine might give to the region in southeastern parts of the country, and they said it's not up to russia to decide what kind of future the country should have, and the europeans pushing to make sure that the key presidential election on the 25th takes place in a free and fair manner without any further

disruption, where the voters might be afraid to go and vote. >> nick spiers in geneva. and at the same time, an annual question-and-answer session, giving them the right to send troops into eastern ukraine, but he said that he hopes he won't have to resort to that action. >> reporter: no coincidence that as the party talks got underway in geneva, vladimir putin was stealing headlines in moscow, with a question-and-answer session with the russian people. top of the agenda, the crisis in ukraine, and one question, would putin send in the troops. >> interpreter: i would like to remind you that the council voted to use the right for force in ukraine, and i hope that i

won't have to use that right, but we can solve by political and diplomatic means >> reporter: this is an event that plays well at home, but put i also had a message to countries like the united states, who imposed sanctions on russia. >> we can't compromise on the ukrainian issue between the united states and russia. it must not be decided by third party, but by ukraine itself. and this is the key point. >> reporter: so two very different messages take away from this telethon. president putin saying that he's insure that ukraine and russia can reach a mutual understanding, but saying that he has the power to deploy his troops in ukraine if he feels that the russian speaking authority is being threatened. and he said he doesn't want to use that. but if there's any call that

aggravates the americans, it is this one. former u.s. spy contractor, edward snowden, having his first public conversation. >> does russia intercept, store in any way the communications of victims? >> >> interpreter: mr. snowden, you are a former agent. we have talked between ourselves as professionals. >> reporter: putin's refusal to hand over snowden back in june, has worsened ties with the united states, and with the ukraine getting worse, that relationship is unlikely to improve. >> ukraine's government has represented putin's comments. and destabilizing parts of the country.

they have arrested ten people they said were spying from moscow. the u.s. has offered to send non-lit al assistance to ukraine. jackie roland is standing by, and tell us what's going on behind you. >> well, the people here say that they're trying to set the record straight about public opinion here in donetsk. saying that they have captured attention with violent demonstrations, running around, and they say that they have presented a distorted view of what people say here. the atmosphere is calm, and nevertheless, there's a very large police presence here.

all the way around the demonstration, the idea is to provide security because there have been threats by the pro russian activists to actually come and break up this meeting. so the atmosphere is calm. the people here, the organizers, these pro ukrainian activists saying that they are very much aware that there's a risk out there. and a lot of the people are afraid. though a lot of people, the silent majority if you like, with the ukraine, the actions by these pro russian activists have been so violent that the people are afraid to say what they really believe. >> okay now, we have of course had announcements of anti-terrorist operations and we have seen people who appear to have anti-forces and the picture looks confused from the outside, jackie. who is in control of donetsk at this point from what you can

make out? >> the situation is confused because there are people here who have different opinions, there are people as well who are like the people here, who are speaking russian, and they live quite close to the russian border, nevertheless, they are specific to ukraine and are proud to be ukraine. but there are other people in this town who think that the economic situation is better in russia and they have a better standard of living there. and they are convinced that the authorities in kiev are a bunch of western students and they don't identify with them. so the authorities here in donetsk, like the authorities appointed by the federal government, i was speaking to one of the representatives earlier, and he said what they're trying to do here is adopt a an approach, they don't want to have confrontations. and they could bring the army in

and retake the government. but at what cost? there would be high casualties and people would be killed. and at this stage, that would be a very bad move, because it would make the situation a lot worse. they could potentially play into the hands of president putin, who has been accused of not protecting russians here, and guaranteed security in the country. so you have, as i said, these very physical and very vocal groups who have taken physical control of the buildings, but the authorities in donetsk say that the civil servants are continuing to work, and do so from different buildings and different offices. at the moment, the official line is they want to try to resolve this situation through dialogue. and military force, other towns in the region, that the army, in many cases, young solderse do

not have the appetite to use force against civilians, against elderly women. >> all right, thank you so much, jackie from donetsk. well, the news out of south korea, the president of the marine company in charge of the marine ferry apologized, saying that his company committed a grave sin. rescuers are trying to find 300 passengers missing after the accident. many of them are students from the same school. bodies arrived, and at least 20 deaths have been confirmed. harry has the latest on the rescue operation. >> new videos being released showing the inside of the fer he's began to tilt, the public address system telling passengers to stay put. it's more dangerous. the crew however appear to have

acted differently. reportedly some of the first off the ship. captain is being questioned. and authorities want to know why the ferry deviated from a government-approved route, making a sudden turn just before it got into trouble. day two of the disaster forced home the extent of this enormous rescue operation. bad weather. and swirling tides, searching for survivors is proving all but impossible. the president paid a visit to the site, expressing her own concern over the slow progress, vowing every effort on behalf of the families. she met some of them at a sports center on jindo island where they had been gathering. >> this wasn't supposed to happen, but it happened. i'm ordering a swift investigation to find out the cause so we can severely punish those responsible.

>> parents gathered in the nearby port. we're just repeating what they're saying on the news, one woman told the officials. they say there are too few dives, time is running out for their children. facebook posts coming from inside of the ferry. >> 60 to 70 people are still alive, but when they talk to them, they worry about whose job it is. passing it off to somebody else. >> reporter: later, the police checked the photo accounts of the missing and say that the text messages have been faked and they promise to track down and punish those responsibility. the vigil all night, now through an awful day. and they want what the authorities haven't been able to provide them. real news of the fate of their loved ones.

several details have emerged on the investigation. coast guard officials say a deviation from the government recommended route might have contributed to the sinking, and also a sharp turn made by the vessel just before it got into trouble. they're questioning the captain, one of the first off the ship. the investigators want to know why passengers were told to stay in, and why only one of the ferry's lifeboats were deployed. back on the port, the tragedy made up of hundreds of individual ones. aljazeera, jindo, south korea. >> let's take you now to geneva where the foreign minister of the russian federation is speaking following the talks. and what does he have to say? >> it's geneva statement from the 17th of april, in which we

agreed the first steps for the deeffectlation of both sides have to avoid the threats, and we have condemned, and denied religious antisemitism. and intolerance. this is what is happening in ukraine lately. the steps we are calling to make to return to legitimate owners, all occupied squares and streets, in all towns have to be afraid. they have to be done to all

protesters. except those who committed to grievous crimes, and for realization of these measures and conflicts, we call the special monetary missions of osc. as the directives to sort out different sides of ukraine, we call on ofc to help the government local authorities and regions to realize the above mentioned measures for the deescalation of the situation. and ukraine and russia will collaborate with the decision of osc. we will support the work of this mission.

mission for regulating the dialogue between sites. step-by-step in conflicts and in mutual deblocking the situation. we also accepted the call, which includes the necessary measures to stop dialogue within the constitutional process, which has to be inclusive, transparent. and responsible. this is not created in kiev at the moment. it has to include all political groups and regions, and has to provide the revision of

commentaries and amendment to the constitution. we stress the importance of the minimal and financial stabilization in ukraine, which is weakened at the moment. we're ready to discuss the support to stabilize the situation in ukraine. along with the steps taken, mentioned previously. in majority these steps are compromising, but we want to be of this process, which has to be regulated by the ukrainians themselves, the conflicts which are connected to the detention of the protecter. protecter of the various

squares and buildings, and the long-term plans is the work on the constitutional reforms. you know that when this meeting was prepared, it was proposed that the main physician forces were very presented. the ones which don't agree to what has happened on the 22nd of february, and which have the currency of the ukrainian government. because of the constitutional reasons to invite representatives of the south and the east was not successful, but at this meeting, we have dispersed the documents which were accepted by regional authorities, and donetsk. the documents include the measures for the deescalation,

and the avoidance of the use of force, and resolving disputes, and the visions of those authorities, which have to be reflected in the constitution. decentralization, widening rights of the authorities in the regions. election of the executive authorities, and along with this, i will mention the role, the importance of the russian language. some people report the official status of the language has to be mutual and accepted by all political forces and all regions. we will support development of such data in a constructive way

for the stability of ukraine, considering all historical language, specifics of regions in ukraine. i'm sure we will continue our meetings in various formats. i'm sure that our colleagues, which are supporting and providing the conditions for the work of osc, we come to dumb to decide for osc. we just wish that osc will consider our wishes. it has the powers to regulate the various places of disturbances, and would like this organization will address all of the aspects mentioned in

our declaration, including the most important, in our opinion, the freeing of the same people, the mayor, and also to stop the expression of extremism in various forms. in all forms. >> interpreter: you mentioned about disarming of the various armed groups. does this include the self defense groups, which are formed? and will it include the russian

troops, which are on the territory? all of the measures which we mentioned today, at today's meeting, includes all regions of ukraine, and the expression of all problematic questions. you know an agreement which was signed on 21st of february, the question was sealed. and not many things were down. the sector continuing to function, refuses to give up weapons, arrogantally stating that they're going to fulfill the duties of the ukrainian army. if they're not going to fulfill their duties, it's all covered in our statement, and ukraine will lead according to the rules

which are accepted by the civilized society. the weapons will be held only by the authorities, legitimate authorities, not as forced by the decree, which was signed in kiev for the depression of protests. it has to be applied evenlily, and it can applied only on mutual basis. it's not possible to -- . >> that was the foreign minister of the russian federation, outlining an agreement that seems to have been reached by

parties talking in geneva, and he got to some of the points in the agreement, ending the crisis in ukraine, tolerance and agreement that all occupied squares and buildings would be freed. and weapons only to be held by legitimate authorities, and amnesty for protesters, a monitoring mission for cooperation in europe. and a series of amendments or process of amendments to the constitution, as well as financial stabilization of ukraine. and he did mention that this document, as he mentioned, had been distributed to regional authorities in donetsk. this brings us to peter, the first obvious question here, has a deal been reached? >> well, it would appear so. we expected so little from this

four-party talks. i mean, the russians weren't open for much, and certainly the americans weren't expecting that at all. but what he's putting across now, and as you jest said, it has been circulated to other regions in the eastern ukraine. buildings have been returned and those government buildings and places returned to the authorities, streets cleared. and amnesty for all protesters. there was that before, but it expired, and that has been left in abeyance, and the monitors, the organization of security and cooperation in europe, they will be the monitors, and it will be their decision to determine whether all these demands or suggestions and plans that lavrov is talking about, will be adhered to, and he said that ukraine and russia will collaborate with the decisions of the osce. so the osce will be working

independently with the government and russia, according to lavrov's plan, and that dialogue will then start constitutional reform. because this is the hub, the knob of the art by russia, that the constitution needs reforming in these vulnerable areas of south ukraine, given more autonomy. the west, the eu and the west would say that only gives moscow leverage over the internal politics of ukraine, but when we started today, there wasn't much anticipation of anything boring this. and i suppose what we have gotten is better than hoped for. >> it sounds like that, peter and thanks for the moment, but i want to go to nick, and a key

question, does everybody get out of the buildings in return for a process that at least opens the door for federalization of ukraine? >> certainly, the russian interpretation of what we heard mr. lavrov said to other parties in what they have to say about how they unfolded. as peter was saying, the significance here is the russian exception of the osce. and hopefully there will no longer be these two competing narratives of what is going on in ukraine, and what is going on with the unrest. and there will be a set of outside eyes, the organization for security and cooperation in europe, and the hundreds

deployed across ukraine will be the ashters of what's going on. so there won't be these accusations and counter accusations flying from brussels to washington all the time. that was the light at the end of the tunnel. and sergei lov sergei lavrov weo the groups, the deposing of victor yanokovych, proposing that the groups at the time, the people on the side of the protesters in independence square, he said they should be disarmed because part of the russian narrative has been there are armed groups in the western ukraine. and they are a threat to the russian speakers in the east. and un said that that has not been the case, but they hope that they will be able to bring about that convergence.

convergence. >> the hope is that with the regional authorities in donetsk. any guarantee that the protesters will be able to accept this? >> that's the question really. it's so granular on the ground, with the protesters, but if you believe the american and the european and the ukrainian government version of events, which is that these people are essentially remote-controlled from moscow, instigated by offers from moscow, yeah, they would accept it if they're receiving orders from the kremlin, which the kremlin denies vehemently. but the kremlin says that they expect it, i would think. >> one of the protesters, they're not going to leave the building until the process of