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| Ukraine, Crimean Peninsula (Image: Map of Ukraine) |
Situation in Ukrainian Crimea continues to escalate despite the demand
of Ukrainian government to withdraw Russian troops and increasing Western pressure
and total refusal of the world to recognize the results of the illegitimate referendum
held on Sunday in Crimea.
Russia continues to increase its military presence deploying new troops
and heavy military technique to Crimea and along the borders with Ukraine, as
Ukrainian military deployed its forces to protect the borders and territories
of Ukraine and stop Russian military aggression.
After Crimean illegitimate referendum over the changing of the legal
status of Crimea Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree about annexation
of Crimea to Russia as a subject of Russian Federation, claiming that this
decision is based on the “political will of people of Crimea”, who gave their
voices for Russia during the referendum. Signing of this decree was held in
Moscow Kremlin, in presence of Crimean separatist pro-Russian puppet leaders
Aksyonov and Konstantinov. Putin has also delivered a speech after signing the
document, stating that Russia responds to the will of people in Crimea to
support them and that Russia will continue to “protect” Russians and Russian-speaking
people in Ukraine. Russia respects territorial integrity and borders of Ukraine
and would like to build friendly relationships with Ukraine, claimed Vladimir
Putin, refusing to recognize the fact of military occupation of Crimea by
Russian troops. In addition to that Putin stated that Russia is surprised by
the reaction of the Western countries “scaring” Russia with sanctions, and
claimed that these sanctions are unacceptable in the democratic world, accusing
West of ignoring the fact, that “ultra-nationalist, fascist and neo-Nazi”
political forces came to power in Ukraine after ouster of Yanukovich.
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| Igor Tenyukh, Ukrainian Minister of Defense (Image: Wikipedia) |
Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Yevgen Perebyinis has issued a
statement regarding the latest events and Putin’s speech and stated that this
speech had nothing to do with the sober mind. He added also that Russian move
is unprecedented, and its military aggression and intentions in Ukraine
threaten not only Ukraine, but the entire world, totally destabilizing the
security and law situation and violating the terms of international law. He
called on the international community and organizations to hold all the
possible harsh measures in order to stop Russian aggression.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Parliament will gather for the extraordinary
session over the Crimean crisis and Russian military aggression, as Russian
soldiers started assaults against Ukrainian soldiers based in Crimea. Several military
bases and units with Ukrainian soldiers have been attacked with the use of
force, as families of Ukrainian soldiers and officers are being forced to leave
their homes in Simferopol and other cities as well. One of the military bases
in Simferopol was attacked on Tuesday by Russian troops, and at least one officer
was seriously wounded and one soldier was shot dead, as Russians have opened
fire and used also snipers on the roofs of the neighboring buildings.
Thus, death of the first Ukrainian soldier, killed by Russians, became
the cause for Ukrainian government and National Security and Defense Council to
issue a decree officially allowing Ukrainian soldiers to use weapons in Crimea,
as military operation is considered to be started by Russian troops, according
to the statement of Ukrainian Minister of Defense Igor Tenyukh.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has declared that the
conflict with Russia has turned from the political into the military stage, and
Putin and his authorities are responsible for it. Ukrainian soldiers haven’t
opened fire first, though they had all the rights to do so due to the foreign
military invasion, and the first deadly shot was made by the Russian side.
Putin is responsible for it, especially after his Tuesday’s speech on the
annexation of Crimea. Neither Ukraine, nor the civilized countries of the world
have recognized the “referendum” and annexation of Crimea to Russia, and Crimea
will remain Ukrainian territories, stated Mr. Yatsenyuk. He also addressed USA.
Great Britain and Russia as the countries-guarantors of Ukrainian borders,
territorial integrity and sovereignty according to the 1994 Budapest Treaty and
demanded to support Ukraine and to form special military commission in order to
resolve the crisis in Crimea.
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| Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Ukrainian Prime Minister (Image: Telegpaph) |
Acting President of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchinov has declared on Tuesday,
that temporally occupation of Crimea by Russian forces will not change the
status of Crimea, as Crimea will always remain Ukrainian territory, and Putin
won’t be able to realize his plans and intentions. He’ll be also held
accountable for all the military crimes committed by the Russians in Crimea, as
the crisis turned into military aggression on Ukrainian Peninsula.
Meanwhile, international community has strongly condemned Russian recent
moves and escalation of the situation in Crimea and illegal annexation of
Ukrainian territories. World’s countries including USA, EU countries, Canada
and other refused to recognize the results of the illegitimate Crimean “referendum”
and annexation of Crimea to Russia. Several countries have already imposed
sanctions against Russian authorities, including USA, EU, Canada, Australia,
Japan.
As Russian refuses to de-escalate the situation and to resolve the
crisis peacefully and through the talks, Western countries claimed to impose
additional wider and harsher sanctions against Russia, and these sanctions will
include visa restrictions, economic sanctions, freezing of financial assets and
stop of cooperation with Russia.
Thus, Norway has declared that it stops cooperation with Russia and the
talks regarding the free trade zone due to Russian aggression in Ukraine and
annexation of Crimea. Russia was also excluded for the G7, and the next meeting
of the countries-members of G7 will be held over the situation in Ukraine.
William Hague, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Great Britain, one of the states-guarantors
of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity according to the Budapest
Treaty, has stated that Great Britain also stops its cooperation and cancels
joint military trainings with Russia and will demand on imposing of the new
package of wider and harsher sanctions against Putin’s Russia. These sanctions could
be imposed till the end of this week, after the meeting of European Council.
EU along with USA refuses to recognize the results of the “referendum”
and annexation of Ukrainian Crimea by Putin. President of European Parliament
Herman Van Rompuy and Head of European Council Jose Manuel Barroso have issued
a joint statement on Tuesday on the latest events, strongly condemning Russia’s
policies and moves and demanded Russia to respect Ukrainian borders,
territorial integrity and sovereignty. It was also stated, that EU will
consider the new package of sanctions against Russia, though hope to resolve
the crisis diplomatically remains.
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| Stefan Füle, Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policies of EU (Image: Voice of America) |
PACE also condemns Putin’s annexation of Crimea and calls for the talks
in order to resolve the crisis.
USA have also expressed strong condemnation of Russian aggression as
Russia threatens not only Ukraine, but the entire world, and Russian annexation
of Crimea will have serious consequences for Russia, according to the recent
statement of Jay Carney, official representative of US White House.
UN General Assembly in its turn has cancelled its meeting, planned for
the 19 March, and instead of it there will be an extraordinary meeting of UN
Security Council regarding the situation in Ukraine and Russian military
aggression.
Meanwhile, EU is ready to sign the political part of the Association
Agreement with Ukraine on 21 March, as the economic part needs some
consultations. Representative of Ukraine in EU Kostyantyn Eliseev stated that
the economic part of the Agreement could be signed till the end of this year.
He also added that the political part of the document to be signed on 21 March
has the terms about guarantees of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of
Ukraine.
Stefan Füle, Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood
Policy of EU, has stated on Tuesday, that EU has to offer Ukraine membership
due to the situation in the country and the recent events. “If we are willing
to really change the Eastern part of Europe, which has experienced the recent
events, we should use the strongest instrument of EU policies, which is
enlargement”, declared Mr. Füle, - “It has unprecedented and strong stabilizing
power”. European Commission in its turn confirmed the proposal to accept
Ukraine as a member of EU.
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