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| Standoffs persist in Crimea as Kerry prepares to meet Russian counterpart | Standoffs persist in Crimea as Kerry prepares to meet Russian counterpart |
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| SEVASTOPOL, Ukraine — As Secretary of State John F. Kerry prepared to meet with his Russian counterpart in Paris, standoffs continued Wednesday between Russian and Ukrainian warships in this Crimean port with no sign of a breakthrough in a stalemate between the new government in Kiev and pro-Russian authorities in the Crimean Peninsula. | SEVASTOPOL, Ukraine — As Secretary of State John F. Kerry prepared to meet with his Russian counterpart in Paris, standoffs continued Wednesday between Russian and Ukrainian warships in this Crimean port with no sign of a breakthrough in a stalemate between the new government in Kiev and pro-Russian authorities in the Crimean Peninsula. |
| In Brussels, the European Union weighed in Wednesday with a proposal to provide a $15 billion aid package of loans and grants to Ukraine in the coming years, on top of a U.S. announcement Tuesday of $1 billion in loan guarantees. | In Brussels, the European Union weighed in Wednesday with a proposal to provide a $15 billion aid package of loans and grants to Ukraine in the coming years, on top of a U.S. announcement Tuesday of $1 billion in loan guarantees. |
| The E.U. package is “designed to assist a committed, inclusive and reforms oriented Government in rebuilding a stable and prosperous future for Ukraine,” European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said, according to the Associated Press. The package would be phased over several years, but Barroso did not immediately specify any conditions that Ukraine would have to meet in overhauling its economy. Kiev estimates it needs $35 billion in international rescue loans over the next two years. | |
| In Ukraine’s autonomous Crimea region, the newly appointed regional prime minister, whose own legitimacy has been questioned because he was installed after masked gunmen seized the Crimean parliament, said his administration was not speaking with the national government in Kiev. | In Ukraine’s autonomous Crimea region, the newly appointed regional prime minister, whose own legitimacy has been questioned because he was installed after masked gunmen seized the Crimean parliament, said his administration was not speaking with the national government in Kiev. |
| “We don’t consider this government that proposes talks to us to be legitimate; that is the main issue,” Crimean Premier Sergei Aksyonov told a Latvian radio station. | “We don’t consider this government that proposes talks to us to be legitimate; that is the main issue,” Crimean Premier Sergei Aksyonov told a Latvian radio station. |
| Russian officials continued to deny that their forces were spread out across the Crimean Peninsula. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, speaking in Madrid, said Wednesday that all the armed men who arrive in Russian troop transports, with Russian plates, are local self-defense militias. | Russian officials continued to deny that their forces were spread out across the Crimean Peninsula. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, speaking in Madrid, said Wednesday that all the armed men who arrive in Russian troop transports, with Russian plates, are local self-defense militias. |
| In Moscow, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu denied Wednesday that any of his troops had strayed from their bases in Crimea despite videos and photos that suggested otherwise. | In Moscow, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu denied Wednesday that any of his troops had strayed from their bases in Crimea despite videos and photos that suggested otherwise. |
| “No, absolutely not,” he responded when asked by Kremlin pool reporters if there were any Russian troops in Crimea outside their own bases. | “No, absolutely not,” he responded when asked by Kremlin pool reporters if there were any Russian troops in Crimea outside their own bases. |
| Even though videos show troops in Crimea admitting they are Russian, despite wearing uniforms without any insignia, Shoigu echoed statements made Tuesday by President Vladimir Putin, who insisted the troops were exceptionally well-trained Crimean self-defense units. | Even though videos show troops in Crimea admitting they are Russian, despite wearing uniforms without any insignia, Shoigu echoed statements made Tuesday by President Vladimir Putin, who insisted the troops were exceptionally well-trained Crimean self-defense units. |
| “Of course, these are provocations,” Shoigu said, regarding the videos. When asked how Crimean self-defense troops could have come into possession of Russian Tiger and Lynx armored vehicles, he said he had no idea, the Interfax news agency reported. | “Of course, these are provocations,” Shoigu said, regarding the videos. When asked how Crimean self-defense troops could have come into possession of Russian Tiger and Lynx armored vehicles, he said he had no idea, the Interfax news agency reported. |
| Lavrov’s meeting with Kerry in Paris could produce some sparks. On Tuesday, Kerry almost mocked Russian denials that its troops were surrounding Ukrainian military bases. | Lavrov’s meeting with Kerry in Paris could produce some sparks. On Tuesday, Kerry almost mocked Russian denials that its troops were surrounding Ukrainian military bases. |
| “The contrast really could not be clearer: determined Ukrainians demonstrating strength through unity, and the Russian government out of excuses, hiding its hand behind falsehoods, intimidation and provocations,” Kerry said during a visit to Kiev. | “The contrast really could not be clearer: determined Ukrainians demonstrating strength through unity, and the Russian government out of excuses, hiding its hand behind falsehoods, intimidation and provocations,” Kerry said during a visit to Kiev. |
| French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Wednesday that economic sanctions against Russia will be discussed by the European Union when its leaders meet on Thursday. “We cannot accept, we members of the international community, a country that invades another,” Fabius said on his twitter account. | French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Wednesday that economic sanctions against Russia will be discussed by the European Union when its leaders meet on Thursday. “We cannot accept, we members of the international community, a country that invades another,” Fabius said on his twitter account. |
| The European Union will consider sanctions against Russia if there is no de-escalation in the Ukraine crisis, he said via Twitter. | |
| Meanwhile, the United States and Britain maneuvered to begin a diplomatic outreach to Russia. Kerry and British Foreign Secretary William Hague invited Lavrov to a meeting Wednesday morning in Paris with Ukraine’s acting foreign minister. The Russian did not attend. | |
| “Regrettably missing one member,” Kerry said at the start of the session of nations that signed a 1994 agreement for post-Soviet Ukraine to give up its nuclear weapons. | |
| Speaking to reporters at his country home west of Moscow on Tuesday, Putin offered a vigorous defense of his Russia’s intervention in Ukraine. He said the pro-Russian former government in Kiev was illegally overthrown last month and that the man he regards as Ukraine’s legitimate president asked him for military help. | Speaking to reporters at his country home west of Moscow on Tuesday, Putin offered a vigorous defense of his Russia’s intervention in Ukraine. He said the pro-Russian former government in Kiev was illegally overthrown last month and that the man he regards as Ukraine’s legitimate president asked him for military help. |
| In his first public comments about the crisis since President Viktor Yanukovych was deposed Feb. 22, Putin described Ukraine as lawless and suggested that Ukrainians appeared unable to run their own country. He said masked militants were “roaming the streets of Kiev” — even though the Ukrainian capital has remained calm in recent days. | In his first public comments about the crisis since President Viktor Yanukovych was deposed Feb. 22, Putin described Ukraine as lawless and suggested that Ukrainians appeared unable to run their own country. He said masked militants were “roaming the streets of Kiev” — even though the Ukrainian capital has remained calm in recent days. |
| Other Russian officials quickly imitated the pugnacious tone that Putin struck Tuesday. A member of the upper house of parliament, Andrei Klishas, said Wednesday that he planned to draft a bill that would permit Russia to confiscate property and accounts belonging to European and American companies if the West pursued sanctions against Russia. | Other Russian officials quickly imitated the pugnacious tone that Putin struck Tuesday. A member of the upper house of parliament, Andrei Klishas, said Wednesday that he planned to draft a bill that would permit Russia to confiscate property and accounts belonging to European and American companies if the West pursued sanctions against Russia. |
| “Any sanctions must be mutual,” he said. | “Any sanctions must be mutual,” he said. |
| Valentina Matviyenko, the speaker of the upper house, disputed the idea that the West would act against Russia. Europe depends too much on exports to Russia to risk sanctions, she said. | Valentina Matviyenko, the speaker of the upper house, disputed the idea that the West would act against Russia. Europe depends too much on exports to Russia to risk sanctions, she said. |
| “Are they going to stop supplying these products to us now?” she asked reporters. “To whom are they going to supply them then? Everyone who talks about sanctions should calm down and stop talking to Russia in the language of ultimatums.” | “Are they going to stop supplying these products to us now?” she asked reporters. “To whom are they going to supply them then? Everyone who talks about sanctions should calm down and stop talking to Russia in the language of ultimatums.” |
| After days of heightening tension, Putin’s remarks appeared to suggest that Russia could refrain from escalation — if Ukraine gets its house in order. Hours later, Russia proclaimed the successful test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile in Asia, a move unrelated to the crisis but a demonstration to Ukraine and the West of Russia’s military prowess. | After days of heightening tension, Putin’s remarks appeared to suggest that Russia could refrain from escalation — if Ukraine gets its house in order. Hours later, Russia proclaimed the successful test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile in Asia, a move unrelated to the crisis but a demonstration to Ukraine and the West of Russia’s military prowess. |
| Putin said that so far he has not found it necessary to send troops to Ukraine but that Russia had fortified security at its installations in Crimea, where its Black Sea Fleet is based. He did not mention the Russian troops and naval forces that have surrounded Ukrainian bases and ships in Crimea. | Putin said that so far he has not found it necessary to send troops to Ukraine but that Russia had fortified security at its installations in Crimea, where its Black Sea Fleet is based. He did not mention the Russian troops and naval forces that have surrounded Ukrainian bases and ships in Crimea. |
| President Obama and Kerry rejected Putin’s assertions Tuesday, with Kerry charging during a visit to Kiev that “Russia has been working hard to create a pretext for being able to invade further.” | President Obama and Kerry rejected Putin’s assertions Tuesday, with Kerry charging during a visit to Kiev that “Russia has been working hard to create a pretext for being able to invade further.” |
| They said that despite Putin’s claims, it was not true that Russia needs to send in troops to safeguard Russians or Russian speakers in Ukraine from violent reprisals. | They said that despite Putin’s claims, it was not true that Russia needs to send in troops to safeguard Russians or Russian speakers in Ukraine from violent reprisals. |
| Dismissing Moscow’s purported concerns, Obama said Russia was “seeking through force to exert influence on a neighboring country.” | Dismissing Moscow’s purported concerns, Obama said Russia was “seeking through force to exert influence on a neighboring country.” |
| Putin, however, accused the United States of engineering Ukraine’s troubles, suggesting that it was using Ukrainians as guinea pigs in some kind of misguided experiment. | Putin, however, accused the United States of engineering Ukraine’s troubles, suggesting that it was using Ukrainians as guinea pigs in some kind of misguided experiment. |
| “They sit there across the pond as if in a lab running all kinds of experiments on the rats,” he told a small group of reporters in a nationally televised meeting at his country house outside Moscow. “Why would they do it? No one can explain it.” | “They sit there across the pond as if in a lab running all kinds of experiments on the rats,” he told a small group of reporters in a nationally televised meeting at his country house outside Moscow. “Why would they do it? No one can explain it.” |
| In Kiev, his remarks were greeted with less ferocity than might have been expected. The new government is under enormous pressure from the Russian intervention and from unrest in eastern cities, coupled with a financial crisis. It is treading carefully. As Crimea slipped further into Russian control Tuesday, Ukrainian military units there stood their ground but were careful not to provoke a conflict. | In Kiev, his remarks were greeted with less ferocity than might have been expected. The new government is under enormous pressure from the Russian intervention and from unrest in eastern cities, coupled with a financial crisis. It is treading carefully. As Crimea slipped further into Russian control Tuesday, Ukrainian military units there stood their ground but were careful not to provoke a conflict. |
| In Ukraine’s parliament, there was talk of finding a way to give Crimea more autonomy if it agrees to remain a part of Ukraine. The region has scheduled a March 30 referendum on independence or accession to Russia, although Aksyonov, Crimea’s new leader, said Tuesday that he wants to hold the vote sooner. Kerry, echoing the views of many in Kiev, said Russia had installed Aksyonov in a hurried and rigged selection process last week. | |
| Oleh Tiahnybok, the head of the nationalist All-Ukrainian Union “Svoboda” party, said, “The Kremlin is attempting to use blackmail to solve its strategic plans. Ukraine should not succumb to it.” | Oleh Tiahnybok, the head of the nationalist All-Ukrainian Union “Svoboda” party, said, “The Kremlin is attempting to use blackmail to solve its strategic plans. Ukraine should not succumb to it.” |
| And Russia’s intervention, he declared, is a failure: “Ukrainians are not running with outstretched arms toward the occupiers.” | And Russia’s intervention, he declared, is a failure: “Ukrainians are not running with outstretched arms toward the occupiers.” |
| A bloodless confrontation | A bloodless confrontation |
| It has been, all around, an unusual confrontation. After a week of deadly fighting in the streets of Kiev led to Yanukovych’s overthrow, the Russian takeover of Crimea has been swift yet bloodless. The atmosphere in Kiev is hardly that of a capital dealing with an intervention by a powerful neighbor. | It has been, all around, an unusual confrontation. After a week of deadly fighting in the streets of Kiev led to Yanukovych’s overthrow, the Russian takeover of Crimea has been swift yet bloodless. The atmosphere in Kiev is hardly that of a capital dealing with an intervention by a powerful neighbor. |
| Aksyonov said Tuesday that most of the Ukrainian military forces in Crimea have sworn allegiance to his new regional government. Officials in Kiev said that is not true. | Aksyonov said Tuesday that most of the Ukrainian military forces in Crimea have sworn allegiance to his new regional government. Officials in Kiev said that is not true. |
| Young men in Ukrainian self-defense groups said Tuesday that they are ready to take on the Russians but do not need to join the national army to do so. | Young men in Ukrainian self-defense groups said Tuesday that they are ready to take on the Russians but do not need to join the national army to do so. |
| In a stately hall that normally houses an association for architects, a militia had stashed construction hard hats and bicycle helmets atop a stairway, ready to be grabbed if things turn violent. The marble floors were lined with mattresses and sleeping bags. | In a stately hall that normally houses an association for architects, a militia had stashed construction hard hats and bicycle helmets atop a stairway, ready to be grabbed if things turn violent. The marble floors were lined with mattresses and sleeping bags. |
| “I’m ready to fight the Russians,” said Vitaliy Vovk, 24, an event planner and the militia commander. “But I’m hoping there will be no war, that it’s just Putin flexing his muscles.” | “I’m ready to fight the Russians,” said Vitaliy Vovk, 24, an event planner and the militia commander. “But I’m hoping there will be no war, that it’s just Putin flexing his muscles.” |
| Putin’s defense | Putin’s defense |
| Putin said the whole operation is a friendly one, designed to help out a fraternal nation. But he described Ukraine as deeply troubled, telling his interviewers that corruption and social stratification there are even worse than in Russia. | Putin said the whole operation is a friendly one, designed to help out a fraternal nation. But he described Ukraine as deeply troubled, telling his interviewers that corruption and social stratification there are even worse than in Russia. |
| “Out there, they are beyond anything we can imagine,” he said. “This revolutionary situation has been brewing for a long time.” | “Out there, they are beyond anything we can imagine,” he said. “This revolutionary situation has been brewing for a long time.” |
| So it’s understandable why the protesters on the Maidan, Kiev’s Independence Square, wanted an uprising, he said. But they went about it the wrong way, he said, and now Ukraine has swapped one “set of thieves” — Yanukovych’s — for another, a reference to the present government. | So it’s understandable why the protesters on the Maidan, Kiev’s Independence Square, wanted an uprising, he said. But they went about it the wrong way, he said, and now Ukraine has swapped one “set of thieves” — Yanukovych’s — for another, a reference to the present government. |
| Putin said that if he decides to send in the Russian military, he would have legal grounds to do so. Russia has displayed a letter from the ousted president asking for military help in suppressing the revolt. The current government is illegitimate, Russia contends, because Yanukovych was not properly removed from power in a formal impeachment. | Putin said that if he decides to send in the Russian military, he would have legal grounds to do so. Russia has displayed a letter from the ousted president asking for military help in suppressing the revolt. The current government is illegitimate, Russia contends, because Yanukovych was not properly removed from power in a formal impeachment. |
| “What is our biggest concern?” Putin asked. “We see the rampage of reactionary forces, nationalist and anti-Semitic forces going on in certain parts of Ukraine, including Kiev.” | “What is our biggest concern?” Putin asked. “We see the rampage of reactionary forces, nationalist and anti-Semitic forces going on in certain parts of Ukraine, including Kiev.” |
| “We understand what worries the citizens of Ukraine, both Russian and Ukrainian, and the Russian-speaking population in the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine,” he said. “It is this uncontrolled crime that worries them. Therefore, if we see such uncontrolled crime spreading to the eastern regions of the country, and if the people ask us for help, while we already have the official request from the legitimate president, we retain the right to use all available means to protect those people. We believe this would be absolutely legitimate.” | “We understand what worries the citizens of Ukraine, both Russian and Ukrainian, and the Russian-speaking population in the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine,” he said. “It is this uncontrolled crime that worries them. Therefore, if we see such uncontrolled crime spreading to the eastern regions of the country, and if the people ask us for help, while we already have the official request from the legitimate president, we retain the right to use all available means to protect those people. We believe this would be absolutely legitimate.” |
| Yet, the Russian government and the interim Ukrainian government have been in contact. “I’d say that they are quite sluggish, but the first steps have been taken,” Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said. Consultations have been held on the ministerial level. | Yet, the Russian government and the interim Ukrainian government have been in contact. “I’d say that they are quite sluggish, but the first steps have been taken,” Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said. Consultations have been held on the ministerial level. |
| “Ukraine is ready to build a new style of relations with the Russian Federation,” Yatsenyuk said, based on Russia’s respect for Ukraine’s right to determine its own policies. | “Ukraine is ready to build a new style of relations with the Russian Federation,” Yatsenyuk said, based on Russia’s respect for Ukraine’s right to determine its own policies. |
| Lally reported from Moscow. Anne Gearan in Paris contributed to this report. | Lally reported from Moscow. Anne Gearan in Paris contributed to this report. |