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| Interim Ukrainian government says it has no plans to cede Crimea to Russia | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| SEVASTOPOL, Ukraine — The interim government in Ukraine said Saturday it has no intention of ceding Crimea to Russia, while Moscow accused the West of turning a blind eye to extremists pulling the strings in Kiev and sowing terror in Ukraine. | SEVASTOPOL, Ukraine — The interim government in Ukraine said Saturday it has no intention of ceding Crimea to Russia, while Moscow accused the West of turning a blind eye to extremists pulling the strings in Kiev and sowing terror in Ukraine. |
| Though both sides said they were open to negotiations, the heated rhetoric suggested there will be no respite from tensions on the strategic peninsula in the run up to a March 16 referendum on whether to split from Ukraine and join Russia. | Though both sides said they were open to negotiations, the heated rhetoric suggested there will be no respite from tensions on the strategic peninsula in the run up to a March 16 referendum on whether to split from Ukraine and join Russia. |
| “Crimea is and will be Ukrainian territory, and we will not give up Crimea to anyone,” said Ukraine’s acting foreign minister, Andriy Deshchytsia, in a Saturday news conference in Kiev. | “Crimea is and will be Ukrainian territory, and we will not give up Crimea to anyone,” said Ukraine’s acting foreign minister, Andriy Deshchytsia, in a Saturday news conference in Kiev. |
| Of the looming referendum, Deshchytsia said, “It is illegitimate and will not have any legal implications for Crimea, for Ukraine, as well as for the international community.” | Of the looming referendum, Deshchytsia said, “It is illegitimate and will not have any legal implications for Crimea, for Ukraine, as well as for the international community.” |
| In Moscow, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the interim Ukrainian government was beholden to extremists of the Right Sektor, a Ukrainian group that grew out of the uprising. | In Moscow, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the interim Ukrainian government was beholden to extremists of the Right Sektor, a Ukrainian group that grew out of the uprising. |
| “Effectively there is no state control whatsoever over public order and the music is ordered by the so-called Right Sektor, which operates with methods of terror and intimidation,” Lavrov said. | “Effectively there is no state control whatsoever over public order and the music is ordered by the so-called Right Sektor, which operates with methods of terror and intimidation,” Lavrov said. |
| “Already threats are heard not only against officials in Kiev and other Ukrainian regions, but against the heads of the Russian region’s neighboring Ukraine, as well,” he added, referring to threats e-mailed to four Russian governors, allegedly from Ukrainian radicals. | “Already threats are heard not only against officials in Kiev and other Ukrainian regions, but against the heads of the Russian region’s neighboring Ukraine, as well,” he added, referring to threats e-mailed to four Russian governors, allegedly from Ukrainian radicals. |
| Lavrov said European diplomats had not kept a promise made to Russia last month that radical nationalists would not be involved in governing Ukraine. Dmitro Yarosh, the leader of Right Sektor, has announced he will run for president in elections scheduled for May. Russians accuse him of inciting terrorism and have put him on an international wanted list. | Lavrov said European diplomats had not kept a promise made to Russia last month that radical nationalists would not be involved in governing Ukraine. Dmitro Yarosh, the leader of Right Sektor, has announced he will run for president in elections scheduled for May. Russians accuse him of inciting terrorism and have put him on an international wanted list. |
| In Crimea, pro-Russian groups describing themselves as local self-defense units have started patrolling neighborhoods and campaigning for next week’s election. The cities are mostly calm, with residents going about their lives. Things are more tense, though, around the naval and air bases on the edges and outskirts of town. | In Crimea, pro-Russian groups describing themselves as local self-defense units have started patrolling neighborhoods and campaigning for next week’s election. The cities are mostly calm, with residents going about their lives. Things are more tense, though, around the naval and air bases on the edges and outskirts of town. |
| Late Friday night, a pro-Russia militia tried to attack a Ukrainian air base outside Sevastopol. Though it remains unclear exactly what happened, a truck with Russian license plates rammed the front gate while the militiamen demanded the Ukrainians hand over their weapons, according to the BBC. The incident ended without a shot being fired. | Late Friday night, a pro-Russia militia tried to attack a Ukrainian air base outside Sevastopol. Though it remains unclear exactly what happened, a truck with Russian license plates rammed the front gate while the militiamen demanded the Ukrainians hand over their weapons, according to the BBC. The incident ended without a shot being fired. |
| Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel telephoned Ukraine’s defense minister earlier Friday to stress “the firm commitment of the United States” to support Ukraine, and to praise “the performance and the restraint [of] the Ukrainian armed forces, who have not allowed this situation to escalate,” Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John F. Kirby said. | |
| Kirby confirmed that aircraft would be sent to Poland to “plus-up” an existing U.S. aviation attachment based in Poland, but said decisions on numbers and timing have not been made. The Defense Department sent six F-15 fighter jets to Lithuania this week after Baltic nations requested additional defense assets as part of an existing air patrol mission. | Kirby confirmed that aircraft would be sent to Poland to “plus-up” an existing U.S. aviation attachment based in Poland, but said decisions on numbers and timing have not been made. The Defense Department sent six F-15 fighter jets to Lithuania this week after Baltic nations requested additional defense assets as part of an existing air patrol mission. |
| Kirby also clarified that the USS Truxtun, a guided-missile destroyer, was in the Black Sea as part of a routine deployment scheduled before the upheaval in Ukraine. | Kirby also clarified that the USS Truxtun, a guided-missile destroyer, was in the Black Sea as part of a routine deployment scheduled before the upheaval in Ukraine. |
| Asked about the number of Russian troops in Crimea, he put the total at “near 20,000,” including up to 6,000 that have been newly deployed, in addition to those already stationed at Russian bases in the Ukrainian region. Russia has denied sending any additional troops to Crimea. | Asked about the number of Russian troops in Crimea, he put the total at “near 20,000,” including up to 6,000 that have been newly deployed, in addition to those already stationed at Russian bases in the Ukrainian region. Russia has denied sending any additional troops to Crimea. |
| Also on Friday, President Obama spoke with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and they “agreed on the need for Russia to pull back its forces, allow for the deployment of international observers and human rights monitors to Crimea, and support free and fair presidential elections in May,” the White House said in a statement. | Also on Friday, President Obama spoke with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and they “agreed on the need for Russia to pull back its forces, allow for the deployment of international observers and human rights monitors to Crimea, and support free and fair presidential elections in May,” the White House said in a statement. |
| Isabel Gorst reported from Moscow. |