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Obama speaks with Putin by phone, calls on Russia to pull forces back to Crimea bases Obama speaks with Putin by phone, calls on Russia to pull forces back to Crimea bases
(35 minutes later)
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. President Obama spoke for 90 minutes with Russian President Vladmir Putin Saturday in what appeared to have been a testy exchange reflecting an escalating battle of wills and growing international tension over Ukraine.
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.” Obama expressed “deep concern” over Russia’s “violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity....[and] breach of international law.”
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.” He called on Putin to pull Russian forces, now reportedly spread across Crimea, back to their bases in the autonomous Ukrainian region, the White House said, and made clear that Russian refusal would “impact Russia’s standing in the international community,” and would lead to suspension of U.S. participation in planning for the upcoming G8 summit in Sochi scheduled for June, and “greater political and economic isolation” for Russia.
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. Putin gave little ground, according to a Kremlin account of the telephone conversation. Calling the Ukraine situation “extraordinary,” he charged that Ukrainian “ultranationalists,” supported by the U.S.-backed government in Kiev, were threatening “the lives and health of Russian citizens” in Crimea.
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.” “In the case of any further spread of violence to Eastern Ukraine and Crimea,” a statement issued by Putin’s office said, “Russia retains the right to protect its interests and the Russian-speaking population of those areas.”
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.” Both Obama and U.N. Secretary General Ban ki-Moon, who had his own phone call with Putin, urged the Russian leader to open an immediate dialogue with Ukraine’s new leaders, and permit international monitors to assess the situation on the ground.
Kremlin statements did not mention the monitoring proposal. Putin told Ban, his office said, that Russia “would not be able to stay away and wold resort to whatever measures are necessary in compliance with international law” to protect the Crimea’s Russian-speaking population.
Reports from Crimea have mentioned violence going both ways, as ademonstrators from the area’s Russian-speaking majority have attacked pro-government activists and vice versa.
At an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting, the second in as many days, Ukraine’s ambassador supported the call for international observers from the United Nations or the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. That is the best way, U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power told the council, 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 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.