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| Russian military troops in Ukrainian Crimea (Image: Telegraph) |
Russian military presence has significantly increased during the last
night, with several new attacks against Ukrainian military bases and seizure of
some administrative buildings, including Simferopol regional military recruitment
office. Almost all the strategic objects on the Peninsula are being controlled
by Russian military forces, with the local TV channels offices also occupied
and coverage cut off.
In addition to that Russia has deployed additional troops and military
technique in Crimea and allegedly started its movement towards the mainland
Ukraine, according to the reports of Ukrainian Ministry of Defense and the
eyewitnesses, reported, that Russian soldiers are being assaulting Ukrainian
border military bases and destroying the equipment. The field on the border
with Khersonska governorate, which is the beginning of the mainland Ukraine, is
mined by Russian military. The situation escalates, as the special mission of
OSCE was prevented again from entering Crimea.
Meanwhile Ukrainian military forces have started their movements in the
direction of the Eastern borders of Ukraine and Crimea. Border service are
taking extraordinary measures on the border with Russia as the situation
escalates again and threatens with the possible beginning of the full-scale
conflict.
Western countries though including USA, EU and Canada have increased
their pressure on Russia and Putin’s regime using more harsh language and
warning Russia with the new and more serious sanctions and total political and
economic isolation, if it will not de-escalate situation in Crimea and withdraw
its troops.
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| US President Barak Obama has warned Russia of sanctions and total political and economic isolation (Image: BBC) |
US President Barak Obama has an extraordinary meeting with the
representatives of several EU countries, including Great Britain’s Prime
Minister David Cameron, French President Francois Holland and Italian Prime
Minister Matteo Renzi. Mr.Obama had earlier conversations with German
Chancellor Angela Merkel and heads of Baltic countries including Lithuania,
Latvia and Estonia. All of these countries have assured of their position which
haven’t changed: Russia must stop its aggression against Ukraine immediately
and withdraw the troops from Crimea. USA and EU warn Russian leadership of
imposing new sanctions, which could affect not only Russian political figures
and officials, but also oligarchs and businessmen as well. Barak Obama has also
a phone talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin and warned him that Russia
will become in a total political and economic isolation if it will try to annex
Ukrainian Crimea. Western countries also declared that Crimean referendum to be
held on 16 March is totally illegitimate and couldn’t not be recognized by any
country.
US State Secretary John Kerry in his turn has warned Russian officials
of the possibility of total cutting of diplomatic relations with Russia. During
his talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov John Kerry stated again that
Russia must immediately withdraw its troops from the territory of the sovereign
country and de-escalate the situation. In case Russia will try to annex
Ukrainian Crimea, USA will totally cut all the diplomatic relationship with
Russia. It’s worth mentioning, that USA, Canada, Great Britain and several
European countries have already recalled their ambassadors from Moscow.
USA and EU though insist on the peaceful solution and negotiations to be
held between Ukraine and Russia with the mediation of the Western countries and
western observers. Special contact group could be formed for this. Russian
Foreign Minister Lavrov has stated on Saturday, that Russia could agree on the talks
with the new Ukrainian government only under the condition, that Russia won’t
be considered being an “aggressive side of conflict” and called again to come
back to the 21 February agreements, which haven’t been signed by the Russian
side, by the way.
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| US State Secretary John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (Image: Yahoo News) |
USA Head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey has declared on
Saturday, that American Armed Forces and NATO are ready to support Ukraine in
case the situation will escalates, as Russian aggression threatens not only
Ukraine, but European countries as well, including the countries members of
NATO. Military operation remains among the possible options, stated Mr. Dempsey,
and US Army and NATO have sent a clear signal to Russia about it. But of course
the best option is a peaceful and diplomatic one, and all the Western countries
are calling on Russia to start the peaceful talks in order to resolve the
crisis.
Thus, the situation is still extremely tense and complicated, but there
are clear signals that Western countries will not leave Russian intervention
and attempts to annex Ukrainian territories without reaction and taking
appropriate measures. There is still a chance of the peaceful solution, as the
talks on the level of the ministers and Ministries of Foreign Affairs of
Ukraine and Russia have already started, according to Ukrainian government.
Meanwhile, EU has expressed its total support of
Ukraine and is ready to sign the Association Agreement with Ukraine
immediately, declared on Saturday President of European Commission Jose Manuel
Barroso.
UPDATES.
Despite the increasing pressure of the Western countries and demands of Ukrainian government to withdraw the troops and calls to start political dialogue, Russia continued to deploy new troops and military technique in Ukrainian Crimea, as Russian soldiers and pro-Russian activists seized several military and border bases and objects. Russian military continues to control almost all the strategic objects in Crimea, as Ukrainian soldiers are surrounded by Russians and blocked. Local people and self-defense units support Ukrainian soldiers bringing them supplies. Ukrainian swoldiers in their turn remain patient and avoid reacting on the Russian provocations, as any shoot from Ukrainian side could become a cause for the beginning of the conflict.
Video: Ukrainian military movements (Video by Andriy Grachev)
Crimean separatist self-proclaimed leaders Aksyonov and Konstantinov state that the referendum will be held, as the ballots have been reportedly printed and delivered to Crimea. Big boards about the referendum started to appear in Crimean cities, and a lot of them contain extremsit content comparing Ukraine to fascists and picturing Russia as savior. IN addition to that eyewitnesses and journalists from Crimea report that absolutely all Ukrainian TV-channesl are cutt off in Crimea and replaced with the Russian ones.
Among the worrying things is also increasing of the cases of kidnappings of and attacks against the journalists in Crimea. Thus, unknown armed men have kidnapped two Automaidan activists and one journalist accompanying them on Sunday. One day earlier a group of journalists was violently beaten close to the military base in Sevastopol.
Western countries are increasing their pressure on Russian leadership demanding immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Ukraine and calling for the talks. USA Administration stated that USA are ready to impose additional, more harsh sanctions on Russia in case of annexion of Crimea, what could happen this Monday, if Russian Parliament will vote for the annexion. In this case USA warns Russia of total cutting of all the diplomatic and political relaionships and isolation of Russia. EU warned of imposing the similar sanctions.
NATO and US Armed Forces have stated earlier that they are ready to support Ukraine in case Russia will escalate the conflict, and military operation is also on the table. USA, Bulgaria and Romania have started on Sunday their joint military trainings close to Ukraine, in Ukrainian waters. US navy ships have crossed earlier Bosporus and are currently in the Black Sea as well.
Ukrainian military troops and technique is also being deployed to Crimea, as the armed forces troops have started their movement towards Crimea and Easter and Southern regions of Ukraine.
Russia though remains defiant, despuite the growing pressure.
It's worth mentioning also, that Ukrainian interim Prime Minister Arseniy yatsenyuk is expected to visis USA on 12 March and to meet Barak Obama and US officials.
EU in its turn stated that the political part of the AQssociation Agreement with Ukraine will be signed over the coming days.
UPDATES.
Despite the increasing pressure of the Western countries and demands of Ukrainian government to withdraw the troops and calls to start political dialogue, Russia continued to deploy new troops and military technique in Ukrainian Crimea, as Russian soldiers and pro-Russian activists seized several military and border bases and objects. Russian military continues to control almost all the strategic objects in Crimea, as Ukrainian soldiers are surrounded by Russians and blocked. Local people and self-defense units support Ukrainian soldiers bringing them supplies. Ukrainian swoldiers in their turn remain patient and avoid reacting on the Russian provocations, as any shoot from Ukrainian side could become a cause for the beginning of the conflict.
Video: Ukrainian military movements (Video by Andriy Grachev)
Among the worrying things is also increasing of the cases of kidnappings of and attacks against the journalists in Crimea. Thus, unknown armed men have kidnapped two Automaidan activists and one journalist accompanying them on Sunday. One day earlier a group of journalists was violently beaten close to the military base in Sevastopol.
Western countries are increasing their pressure on Russian leadership demanding immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Ukraine and calling for the talks. USA Administration stated that USA are ready to impose additional, more harsh sanctions on Russia in case of annexion of Crimea, what could happen this Monday, if Russian Parliament will vote for the annexion. In this case USA warns Russia of total cutting of all the diplomatic and political relaionships and isolation of Russia. EU warned of imposing the similar sanctions.
NATO and US Armed Forces have stated earlier that they are ready to support Ukraine in case Russia will escalate the conflict, and military operation is also on the table. USA, Bulgaria and Romania have started on Sunday their joint military trainings close to Ukraine, in Ukrainian waters. US navy ships have crossed earlier Bosporus and are currently in the Black Sea as well.
Ukrainian military troops and technique is also being deployed to Crimea, as the armed forces troops have started their movement towards Crimea and Easter and Southern regions of Ukraine.
Russia though remains defiant, despuite the growing pressure.
It's worth mentioning also, that Ukrainian interim Prime Minister Arseniy yatsenyuk is expected to visis USA on 12 March and to meet Barak Obama and US officials.
EU in its turn stated that the political part of the AQssociation Agreement with Ukraine will be signed over the coming days.
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