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| Russian military in Ukrainian Crimea (Image: The Guardian) |
Despite an increasing pressure of the Western countries and demands of
Ukrainian government to withdraw the troops from Crimea, Russia continues to
increase its military presence in Ukrainian Crimea, deploying additional troops
and continuing seizing of Ukrainian military bases and objects and blocking
Ukrainian soldiers, who don’t respond with fire on Russian provocations.
Ukrainian government continues to urge Russian authorities to hold the
talks and to immediately withdraw its troops from Ukrainian soil. Prime Minister
Arseniy Yatsenyuk, who is expected to meet with US President Barak Obama over
Ukrainian crisis on 12 March, has accused Russian leaders of the escalation of
Crimean crisis and called on Putin to hold the talks with Ukraine with the
participation of the international contact group and mediators and observers.
He also stated that Ukrainian government, Parliament and people are able to
decide the future of Crimea and to grant it wider autonomy and additional
powers and rights in the framework of a national dialogue. But it could be
possible only after Russia will withdraw its troops from Crimea and cancel
illegitimate referendum, which won’t be recognized by any country. Mr.
Yatsenyuk also stated that there are no Crimean authorities, as the recently
self-proclaimed leaders are separatists and Moscow puppets.
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| Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Ukrainian interim Prime Minister (Image: Thelegraph) |
Meanwhile, the situation in Crimea remains tense and escalates with
every day, as Russia tries to control the Peninsula stronger ahead of the
referendum set by Crimean separatist pro-Russian powers on 16 March. The
ballots are ready and brought to Crimea. The situation with Ukrainian military
remains complicated, as the soldiers are blocked by Russian military and
pro-Russian militia. The cases of beatings, attacks and kidnappings of
Ukrainian military personnel and officers, journalists and activists increased
during the recent days.
Ukrainian Armed Forces are currently in state of alert, with the military
troops being deployed to the Eastern and Southern regions of Ukraine and
heading to Crimea. Border service of Ukraine increases security measures on the
borders with Russia, Belarus, Moldova, due to the activities on the borders and
arrival of provocateurs on the territory of Ukraine.
Western countries continue to support Ukraine and pressure Russia
threatening it with the new sanctions in case the crisis won’t be resolved
peacefully. Thus, USA has already imposed sanctions against Russian officials
and threatens Russia with total political and economic isolation. US are ready
for the new wider and harsher sanctions against Russia. US Armed Forces and
NATO are also ready to support Ukraine, as Russian aggression in Crimea
threatens not only Ukraine, but also Europe. Military operation is among the
possible options.
NATO has started joint military trainings with Romania and Bulgaria
close to the borders of Ukraine and its Black Sea waters, while NATO military
airplanes started to patrol Ukrainian borders due to an increasing military
activity of Russia in Crimea.
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| Ukrainian acting President Oleksandr Turchinov (Image: Express UK) |
EU is also ready to impose harsh sanctions against Russia, if its
leadership will refuse to hold negotiations or if these talks won’t bring
result, stated UK Prime Minister David Cameron and added, that European
Commission is working on the package of serious sanctions including freezing of
financial assets against Russia.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel urges Russia to start the talks with the
participation of the international contact group and to resolve the conflict
peacefully, or Europe will be forced to impose sanctions in order to stop
Russia aggression. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has expressed similar
statement adding that the solution of the crisis should appear through
negotiations and without dividing Ukraine.
Ukrainian acting President Oleksandr Turchinov has declared on Monday,
that Ukrainian government and European Commission are working in cooperation on
the package of measures in order to resolve the crisis in Crimea and to stop
Russia aggression. These measures include sanctions as well. In addition to
that Ukraine has issued a request to the Venice Commission, and Ukrainian
representative will present the numerous facts of Russian aggression,
violations and propaganda being used in Crimea.
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