 |
| Ukrainian military in Crimea (Image: CBC) |
After Russian backed illegitimate and unrecognized by the international
community referendum in Crimea and Putin’s decree about Crimea’s annexation to
Russian Federation situation on the Peninsula remains tense, as Russian
troops remain in Crimea and continue their attacks and provocations against
Ukrainian soldiers, and additional troops and technique is being deployed along
the border with Ukraine.
Crimean pro-Russian puppet government refuses to recognize authority of Kyiv
prepares for the joining of Russia on all the levels and refuses to hold any
talks with Ukrainian government. Ukrainian vice Prime Minister Mr. Yarema and
Minister of Defense Mr. Tenyukh have arrived today in Crimea for the talks and
resolving the crisis, but Crimean authorities backed by Russian military and
pro-Russian local militia didn’t allow them to enter Crimea, claiming they are
in the black lists of Crimea.
Official Kyiv reacted on the latest developments in Crimea with the
extraordinary sessions of Parliament, National Security and Defense Council and
Cabinet of Ministers. Parliament has voted for several draft laws, including
the law about the status of occupied territories. National Security and Defense
Council, headed by Andriy Parubiy, has taken several important measures and
gave the orders to Ukrainian government regarding security and defense measures
due to the military aggression of Russia and annexation of Ukrainian
territories.
 |
| Ukrainian military is in state of alert (Image: Global Post) |
Thus, National Security and Defense Council has ordered Ministry of
Interior, Ministry of Defense, SBU (Special services of Ukraine and
intelligence) to lead all the troops of Ukrainian Armed Forces embattled, along
with the ongoing trainings of the recently formed National Guard, to increase
security measures on the borders and at nuclear facilities and other important
and potentially vulnerable strategic objects and to start evacuation of
Ukrainian citizens, soldiers and their weapons from Crimea. Cabinet of
Ministers has already approved the plan of evacuation and took decisions
regarding other orders of Mr. Parubiy.
Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent a protest note to the
Russian side condemning Russian military aggression and illegal annexation of
Ukrainian territories and demanded an immediate withdrawal of the military
forces and start of the talks in the presence of the international organizations
and observers. Ukrainian Ambassador was summoned from Moscow.
In addition to that, Ukrainian interim government has addressed UN to
recognize Crimea demilitarized zone and to support Ukraine. Ukraine has also
officially addressed to the two countries-guarantors of the territorial
integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine according to the 1994 Budapest Treaty, USA
and Great Britain, to support Ukraine and to start joint military training on
the territory of Ukraine.
Ukrainian Minister of Justice Pavlo Petrenko stated that Ukraine has
also started preparation of the economic measures due to the financial losses
caused by Russian invasion.
Among the other important decisions taken by Ukrainian government and
National Security and Defense Council is also a decision, that Ukraine
officially quits CIS. Ukraine hasn’t ratified the Statute of CIS, thus, it has
an observer’s status in the organization, and it started the procedures af
quitting it.
 |
| Andriy Parubiy, Secretary General of National Security and Defense Council (Image: Kyiv Post) |
In addition to that Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs starts its
work on visa regime and imposing entry visas for Russian citizens. The task for
the nearest future includes forming the mechanism allowing Russians to enter
Ukraine only with the international passports, and the next stage should be
visa-regime, stated Ukrainian government.
Though the situation in Crimea remains tense and dangerous threatening
not only the region, but the entire Ukraine and the whole Eastern European
region as well. Numerous attacks, kidnappings, assaults, human rights
violations and abuses continue to happen in Crimea, and Russian military and
pro-Russian militia are blocking and attacking the bases of Ukrainian soldiers
and still holds several people as hostages. Ukrainian acting President
Oleksandr Turchinov has issued an ultimatum to the Crimean authorities on
Wednesday, demanding to immediately stop the provocations and to
unconditionally release all the hostages. In case it won’t be done, Ukrainian
government will take all the “adequate measures”, including “technical and
technological”, stated Mr. Turchinov. The talks have reportedly started, and
Mr. Turchinov claimed that Ukrainian hostages might be released this night.
International reaction remains harsh, as none of the civilized countries
supported Putin’s policies in Ukraine and refuses to recognize the referendum
and annexation of Crimea. Germany has stopped its military cooperation with
Russia, EU is preparing the package of the new harsher sanctions.
UN Security Council has held its 8th emergency meeting over
the Crimean crisis and situation in Ukraine on Wednesday, 19 March. Russian
representative Mr. Churkin has delivered false information in his statement again,
claiming that Ukrainian soldier wasn’t killed by Russian military as there was
no attack. He also accused Ukrainian current government of being “ultra-right
and fascist” and claimed that Western countries don’t pay attention to it.
Russia seems to become totally isolated amid n increasing international
pressure.
US State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki has stated that US knows that
Russia has started the shooting in Crimea, and its recent actions and annexation
of Crimea will have serious consequences. Representative of US in UN Samantha
Power called on UN not to ;eave Crimean annexation by Russia without
consequences, as it is unacceptable politically, judiciary, diplomatically and
historically, it destabilizes situation in the region and in the whole world
and is extremely dangerous threatening the world’s order and security.
NATO Head Anders Fogh Rasmussen has declared on Wednesday, that Russia
destabilizes situation in the whole Eastern European region, and it causes the
most serious crisis since the Cold War. NATO has stopped its cooperation with
Russia, but it leaves the doors of the talks opened as there is still hope for
the peaceful and diplomatic resolving the crisis. Mr. Rasmussen has also
mentioned in his statement several “frozen conflicts” including South Ossetia,
Abkhazia, Karabakh, Transnistria.
 |
| Jan Tombinski, EU Ambassador (Image: Kyiv Post) |
UN General Secretary Ban KiMoon is deeply concerned over the policies of
Russian in Crimea and condemned its annexation of the territories of Ukraine.
Ban Ki-Moon will visit Moscow and Kyiv with the visits in order to discuss the
situation in Ukraine and to find the ways to resolve the deepening crisis. Moscow
visit is planned for 20 March, and on 21 and 22 March Ban Ki-Moon will visit
Ukraine and meet Ukrainian government.
EU Ambassador Jan Tombinski has declared that the situation is extremely
tense, as Crimea could turn into one of the most dangerous regions in the
world, as more and more Ukrainian and Crimean Tatars suffer from human rights’
violations and abuses, cases of kidnapping, torture and killing of people are
increasing, journalists are being systematically attacked, and freedom of
speech and information is violated. He also stated that negotiations are needed
to resolve the crisis, and international observers of OSCE, UN, EU and EU
Council should be granted entry to Crimea.
No comments:
Post a Comment