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U.S. and allies huddle on Ukraine crisis; Obama speaks with Putin by phone Obama speaks with Putin by phone, calls on Russia to pull forces back to Crimea bases
(35 minutes later)
President Obama telephoned Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday as the United States, its top European partners and the U.N. Security Council spent much of Saturday trying to fashion a response to the rapid escalation of the Ukraine crisis after Russian troops took up positions throughout the autonomous republic of Crimea. President Obama spoke for 90 minutes with Russian President Vladimir Putin as the United States, its top European partners and the U.N. Security Council spent the day trying to fashion a response to the rapid escalation of the Ukraine crisis after Russian troops took up positions throughout the autonomous republic of Crimea.
At an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting, the second is as many days, Ukraine supported a U.S. call for the United Nations or the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to send monitors to Ukraine, and especially to Crimea. That is the best way, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power said, to “get the facts, monitor conduct and prevent any abuses.” Obama expressed “deep concern,” the White House said, and called on Russia to withdraw its forces back to its bases in Crimea and “to refrain from any interference elsewhere in Ukraine.”
Putin appeared to have given little ground, according to a readout of the conversation from his office. He told Obama that Russian-speaking ethnic groups in Crimea and elsewhere were under attack by “ultranationalists” supported by the interim government in Kiev. Putin, the statement said, stressed that in the event of “any further spread of violence in Eastern Ukraine and Crimea, Russia retains the right to protect its interests and the Russian-speaking population of those areas.”
The White House said Obama told Putin that the “appropriate way to address” concerns about ethnic Russians and other minorities in Ukraine was to directly engage the new government in Kiev and to support and participate in international observer missions that could be dispatched by the United Nations or the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Continued violation of Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty, Obama told Putin, “would negatively impact Russia’s standing in the international community,” lead the United States to suspend participation in planning for the upcoming Group of Eight meeting scheduled to be held in Sochi, Russia, in June, and lead to Russia’s “greater political and economic isolation.”
At an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting, the second is as many days, Ukraine supported the call for the dispatch of international observers to Ukraine, and particularly to Crimea. That is the best way, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power said, to “get the facts, monitor conduct and prevent any abuses.”
In response to calls for a Russian withdrawal, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin said his government’s action was “fully constitutional” and charged Western governments and Ukraine dissidents with “stirring up” the situation unnecessarily.In response to calls for a Russian withdrawal, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin said his government’s action was “fully constitutional” and charged Western governments and Ukraine dissidents with “stirring up” the situation unnecessarily.
Outside a White House meeting of President Obama’s top national security advisers Saturday morning, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel telephoned his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, and Secretary of State John F. Kerry called interim Ukraine President Oleksandr Turchynov, U.S. officials said. Outside a White House meeting of Obama’s top national security advisers Saturday morning, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel telephoned his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, and Secretary of State John F. Kerry called interim Ukraine President Oleksandr Turchynov, U.S. officials said.
Following the morning-long meeting, a senior administration official said that advisers had been updated on the situation in Ukraine and had discussed “potential policy options.” The official said the White House would provide “further updates” later in the day.Following the morning-long meeting, a senior administration official said that advisers had been updated on the situation in Ukraine and had discussed “potential policy options.” The official said the White House would provide “further updates” later in the day.
Robert Serry, a senior U.N. official whom Ban dispatched to Ukraine on a fact-finding mission earlier in the week, said he was unable to comply with U.N. instructions to travel to Crimea. After getting in touch with the pro-Russian Crimean government, Serry said in a statement, he had “come to the conclusion that a visit to Crimea today is not possible.”Robert Serry, a senior U.N. official whom Ban dispatched to Ukraine on a fact-finding mission earlier in the week, said he was unable to comply with U.N. instructions to travel to Crimea. After getting in touch with the pro-Russian Crimean government, Serry said in a statement, he had “come to the conclusion that a visit to Crimea today is not possible.”
“In Crimea, I would have conveyed . . . a message for all to calm the situation down and to refrain from any actions that could further escalate an already-tense environment.”“In Crimea, I would have conveyed . . . a message for all to calm the situation down and to refrain from any actions that could further escalate an already-tense environment.”
As Security Council ambassadors moved behind closed doors at mid-afternoon, officials there said they anticipated the vast majority of the 15-member body would agree to a strong condemnation of Putin’s request, and the Russian parliament’s agreement, to send troops to Crimea.As Security Council ambassadors moved behind closed doors at mid-afternoon, officials there said they anticipated the vast majority of the 15-member body would agree to a strong condemnation of Putin’s request, and the Russian parliament’s agreement, to send troops to Crimea.
After Friday’s council meeting, Churkin said his government was opposed to any “imposed mediation” over Crimea.After Friday’s council meeting, Churkin said his government was opposed to any “imposed mediation” over Crimea.
In Brussels, European Union Foreign Policy chief Catherine Ashton called for an “extraordinary” meeting of the E.U.’s foreign affairs council Monday on Ukraine.In Brussels, European Union Foreign Policy chief Catherine Ashton called for an “extraordinary” meeting of the E.U.’s foreign affairs council Monday on Ukraine.
The administration has been trying to coordinate its response with European allies, examining options that include a boycott of the upcoming G8 meeting, scheduled to be held in June in the Russian Black Sea city of Sochi, and a variety of trade and economic measures.The administration has been trying to coordinate its response with European allies, examining options that include a boycott of the upcoming G8 meeting, scheduled to be held in June in the Russian Black Sea city of Sochi, and a variety of trade and economic measures.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague said via Twitter that he had summoned Russia’s ambassador to London for a meeting and that he had consulted by telephone with his German counterpart.British Foreign Secretary William Hague said via Twitter that he had summoned Russia’s ambassador to London for a meeting and that he had consulted by telephone with his German counterpart.
Although Ukraine’s interim government called for implementation of a 1994 security pact it signed with the United States, Britain and Russia — and Hague said that Britain supported consultations under the terms of that agreement — U.S. officials gave no indication that any military response was being considered.Although Ukraine’s interim government called for implementation of a 1994 security pact it signed with the United States, Britain and Russia — and Hague said that Britain supported consultations under the terms of that agreement — U.S. officials gave no indication that any military response was being considered.
In the so-called Budapest Memorandum, under which Ukraine transferred its Soviet-era nuclear weapons to Russia for disposal, signatories pledged to preserve Ukraine’s territorial integrity and to submit any dispute to consultations among them.In the so-called Budapest Memorandum, under which Ukraine transferred its Soviet-era nuclear weapons to Russia for disposal, signatories pledged to preserve Ukraine’s territorial integrity and to submit any dispute to consultations among them.