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| Violence in Ukraine Creates Deepening Clash Between East and West | Violence in Ukraine Creates Deepening Clash Between East and West |
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| MOSCOW — The two sides in what is developing into an East-West clash over Ukraine hardened their positions on Wednesday, with Russian officials denouncing what they called a coup by right-wing extremists, even as the United States and Europe threatened to impose sanctions on those responsible for the violence that has erupted in the capital, Kiev, and spread to other cities. | MOSCOW — The two sides in what is developing into an East-West clash over Ukraine hardened their positions on Wednesday, with Russian officials denouncing what they called a coup by right-wing extremists, even as the United States and Europe threatened to impose sanctions on those responsible for the violence that has erupted in the capital, Kiev, and spread to other cities. |
| The starkly divergent reactions underscored the deepening confrontation between Russia and the West over Ukraine’s fate, with each side accusing the other of interference and disputing even the facts of what was happening. | The starkly divergent reactions underscored the deepening confrontation between Russia and the West over Ukraine’s fate, with each side accusing the other of interference and disputing even the facts of what was happening. |
| Expressing alarm at the escalating death toll, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and President François Hollande of France blamed the security forces of President Viktor F. Yanukovych and made it clear that they supported a political transition that would allow Ukrainians to elect a new government. After meeting with Mr. Hollande in Paris, Ms. Merkel said the convulsion of violence resulted from a “deliberate delaying tactic” by Mr. Yanukovych to avoid a compromise and preserve his place in power. | Expressing alarm at the escalating death toll, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and President François Hollande of France blamed the security forces of President Viktor F. Yanukovych and made it clear that they supported a political transition that would allow Ukrainians to elect a new government. After meeting with Mr. Hollande in Paris, Ms. Merkel said the convulsion of violence resulted from a “deliberate delaying tactic” by Mr. Yanukovych to avoid a compromise and preserve his place in power. |
| Russia, by contrast, vowed to use all its influence to support Ukraine’s government and joined Mr. Yanukovych in accusing his opponents of trying to seize power in what amounted to a coup. In one of its most pointed statements since the political crisis in Ukraine began, the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry even evoked the Brown Revolution that brought the Nazis to power in Germany in 1933, blaming “criminal activities of radical opposition forces” for causing the bloodshed and denouncing European countries for failing to acknowledge that. | Russia, by contrast, vowed to use all its influence to support Ukraine’s government and joined Mr. Yanukovych in accusing his opponents of trying to seize power in what amounted to a coup. In one of its most pointed statements since the political crisis in Ukraine began, the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry even evoked the Brown Revolution that brought the Nazis to power in Germany in 1933, blaming “criminal activities of radical opposition forces” for causing the bloodshed and denouncing European countries for failing to acknowledge that. |
| Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, accused the West of “encouraging the opposition to act outside of the law.” | |
| “We don’t want to impose ourselves, as some of our overly zealous Western partners are trying to do,” he said in televised remarks from Kuwait. | |
| A senior State Department official dismissed the charge that the United States was meddling in Ukraine’s affairs, saying that Washington had been open about its efforts to encourage a power-sharing government. | A senior State Department official dismissed the charge that the United States was meddling in Ukraine’s affairs, saying that Washington had been open about its efforts to encourage a power-sharing government. |
| The official threw the meddling charge back at Moscow. “They have not been transparent about what they’ve been doing in Ukraine,” the official said. “I would put the question back to the Kremlin, ‘What would they support?’ ” | The official threw the meddling charge back at Moscow. “They have not been transparent about what they’ve been doing in Ukraine,” the official said. “I would put the question back to the Kremlin, ‘What would they support?’ ” |
| President Obama, on a visit to Mexico, interrupted his opening meeting with President Enrique Peña Nieto to tell reporters that “the United States condemns in the strongest terms” the violence that has claimed lives in the last two days. He pointedly warned the Ukrainian military on Wednesday to stay out of the political crisis that has already ravaged the streets of Kiev and said the United States would hold the government responsible for further violence. | President Obama, on a visit to Mexico, interrupted his opening meeting with President Enrique Peña Nieto to tell reporters that “the United States condemns in the strongest terms” the violence that has claimed lives in the last two days. He pointedly warned the Ukrainian military on Wednesday to stay out of the political crisis that has already ravaged the streets of Kiev and said the United States would hold the government responsible for further violence. |
| The president’s decision to address the Ukrainian situation without being asked reflected the growing concern by the White House that the standoff between the government and demonstrators in the street had spiraled out of control. | The president’s decision to address the Ukrainian situation without being asked reflected the growing concern by the White House that the standoff between the government and demonstrators in the street had spiraled out of control. |
| “We have been watching very carefully, and we expect the Ukrainian government to show restraint, to not resort to violence in dealing with peaceful protesters,” Mr. Obama said. “There will be consequences if people step over the line.” | |
| The substance of that threat became clear on Wednesday evening, when the Obama administration said it had imposed a visa ban on 20 senior Ukrainian officials whom it accused of playing a role in the government’s crackdown on Tuesday. The State Department declined to say which officials were on the list, but a senior State Department official said it included “the full chain of command responsible for ordering the violence last night.” | The substance of that threat became clear on Wednesday evening, when the Obama administration said it had imposed a visa ban on 20 senior Ukrainian officials whom it accused of playing a role in the government’s crackdown on Tuesday. The State Department declined to say which officials were on the list, but a senior State Department official said it included “the full chain of command responsible for ordering the violence last night.” |
| In a news conference Wednesday evening, Mr. Obama said the violence was not a proxy for the struggle for influence between Russia and the United States. He said his government’s approach was “not to see this as some Cold War chessboard in which we are in competition with Russia.” He also promised to “continue to engage all sides in Ukraine.” | In a news conference Wednesday evening, Mr. Obama said the violence was not a proxy for the struggle for influence between Russia and the United States. He said his government’s approach was “not to see this as some Cold War chessboard in which we are in competition with Russia.” He also promised to “continue to engage all sides in Ukraine.” |
| The foreign ministers of France, Germany and Poland are scheduled to travel to Kiev on Thursday to press for a compromise, but given the deep divisions between Russia and the West there appeared to be little room for one. | The foreign ministers of France, Germany and Poland are scheduled to travel to Kiev on Thursday to press for a compromise, but given the deep divisions between Russia and the West there appeared to be little room for one. |
| That has raised the prospect that what began as a political crisis in Ukraine could deteriorate into an armed confrontation. Some political figures in Moscow were warning of a repeat of the disintegration of Yugoslavia. | That has raised the prospect that what began as a political crisis in Ukraine could deteriorate into an armed confrontation. Some political figures in Moscow were warning of a repeat of the disintegration of Yugoslavia. |
| Aleksei K. Pushkov, the chairman of the foreign affairs committee of Russia’s lower house of Parliament, said the most radicalized opponents of Mr. Yanukovych no longer sought a compromise but rather had taken up arms. “Now there is a radical element that is not fully controlled by the opposition,” he said. “It’s not a political process anymore. It’s a quasi-civil war.” | Aleksei K. Pushkov, the chairman of the foreign affairs committee of Russia’s lower house of Parliament, said the most radicalized opponents of Mr. Yanukovych no longer sought a compromise but rather had taken up arms. “Now there is a radical element that is not fully controlled by the opposition,” he said. “It’s not a political process anymore. It’s a quasi-civil war.” |
| The ferocity of the violence in Kiev appeared to stun Europe’s leaders, leaving them scrabbling for an effective response to a crisis that began last November when Mr. Yanukovych rebuffed a plan to deepen political and economic ties with the European Union. | The ferocity of the violence in Kiev appeared to stun Europe’s leaders, leaving them scrabbling for an effective response to a crisis that began last November when Mr. Yanukovych rebuffed a plan to deepen political and economic ties with the European Union. |
| In Brussels, the European Union began the work of drafting sanctions that could impose travel bans and freeze the bank accounts of individuals who were found responsible for repressive acts. Such sanctions have become a standard reflex of the bloc’s foreign policy, though their effectiveness is debated and it remains unclear who exactly set off the latest violence in Kiev. | |
| Secretary of State John Kerry, who was visiting Paris, warned that the United States would join the Europeans in imposing sanctions but also stopped short of pledging to do so. He said there was still time for Mr. Yanukovych to negotiate a resolution. | Secretary of State John Kerry, who was visiting Paris, warned that the United States would join the Europeans in imposing sanctions but also stopped short of pledging to do so. He said there was still time for Mr. Yanukovych to negotiate a resolution. |
| “Our desire is for Mr. Yanukovych to bring people together, dialogue with the opposition, find the measure of compromise and put the broad interests of the people of Ukraine out front,” Mr. Kerry said. | “Our desire is for Mr. Yanukovych to bring people together, dialogue with the opposition, find the measure of compromise and put the broad interests of the people of Ukraine out front,” Mr. Kerry said. |
| The West has threatened sanctions in recent weeks to little if any apparent effect, and Mr. Yanukovych and his government were certainly aware of the past threats when riot police officers attacked the protesters in Kiev. | The West has threatened sanctions in recent weeks to little if any apparent effect, and Mr. Yanukovych and his government were certainly aware of the past threats when riot police officers attacked the protesters in Kiev. |
| In Russia, officials also sought to influence events. Russia has pledged $15 billion in financial assistance to help Ukraine avert a default and released a second installment of $2 billion on Monday, helping set off the latest protests by those who fear the terms of Russia’s aid would push the country further into the Kremlin’s embrace. | In Russia, officials also sought to influence events. Russia has pledged $15 billion in financial assistance to help Ukraine avert a default and released a second installment of $2 billion on Monday, helping set off the latest protests by those who fear the terms of Russia’s aid would push the country further into the Kremlin’s embrace. |
| On Wednesday, however, Ukraine officials said the payment was being held up for “technical reasons,” Reuters reported. | On Wednesday, however, Ukraine officials said the payment was being held up for “technical reasons,” Reuters reported. |
| President Vladimir V. Putin spoke by telephone with Mr. Yanukovych overnight, but Mr. Putin’s spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, declined to detail the conversation except to say that Mr. Putin was not trying to dictate the terms of any settlement. | |
| “In the president’s view, all responsibility for what is happening in Ukraine rests with the extremists,” Mr. Peskov told reporters, according to the Interfax news agency. At the same time, Mr. Peskov deflected questions about the continuation of Russia’s loans, which the Kremlin froze for a period last month when the confrontation appeared to be worsening. | “In the president’s view, all responsibility for what is happening in Ukraine rests with the extremists,” Mr. Peskov told reporters, according to the Interfax news agency. At the same time, Mr. Peskov deflected questions about the continuation of Russia’s loans, which the Kremlin froze for a period last month when the confrontation appeared to be worsening. |
| “We cannot give more into the air,” Mr. Pushkov said. “There should be a responsible government. Otherwise, it would just disappear.” | “We cannot give more into the air,” Mr. Pushkov said. “There should be a responsible government. Otherwise, it would just disappear.” |
| In Russia, as in Europe, the crisis seemed a pivotal moment for the Continent and its dividing lines. “We Poles,” Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland said, “will not remain indifferent to these events because we know that the developments in Ukraine will decide the history and the future of the whole region.” |