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Ukraine crisis: President Barack Obama meets Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk as Kiev warns of more than 80,000 Russian troops massing at the border Ukraine crisis: ‘We will stand with Ukraine’, says President Barack Obama as Russian troops mass on Crimean boarder
(about 4 hours later)
US President Barack Obama has held a high-profile White House meeting with Ukraine’s Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, in a calculated display of the West’s backing – moral, financial and diplomatic – for the embattled new government in Kiev. Barack Obama held a high-profile meeting with Ukraine’s Prime Minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, at the White House in a calculated display for the Kremlin of the West’s backing – moral, financial and diplomatic – for the embattled new government in Kiev.
The Oval Office session, four days before the referendum in Crimea on whether the territory should rejoin Russia, was intended to send a clear message to the Kremlin. It came as Ukrainian authorities accused Moscow of a major military build-up near Ukraine’s border, involving over 80,000 troops and creating “the threat of a full-scale invasion”. “We will stand with Ukraine,” Mr Obama declared afterwards, before repeating his warning that Russia would have to pay a cost if it failed to change its policies.
That claim was swiftly denied by the deputy Russian defence minister. But it only heightened tensions after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared his readiness to “use all means” to protect the Russian-speaking population in eastern Ukraine. The meeting came just four days before Sunday’s referendum in Crimea on whether the territory should rejoin Russia, amid accusations by Kiev that Moscow was engaged in a major military build-up along the border.
Tonight, as Nato sent two surveillance aircraft to monitor Ukrainian and Black Sea airspace, the diplomatic impasse appeared total. Hours before Mr Yatsenyuk met Mr Obama, the G-7 issued a joint statement declaring they would not recognise the results of the referendum, which the West regards as illegal, in breach of Ukrainian and international law. According to the Ukrainian authorities, the build-up, involving more than 80,000 troops, created “the threat of a full-scale invasion”. That claim was swiftly denied by the Russian Deputy Defence Minister. But it only heightened tensions, given that President Vladimir Putin pledged his readiness “to use all means” to protect the Russian-speaking population in eastern Ukraine.
“We call on the Russian Federation to immediately halt actions supporting a referendum on the territory of Crimea regarding its status, in direct violation of the constitution of Ukraine,” the statement said. “Any such referendum would have no legal effect.” Tonight, as Nato sent two aircraft to monitor Ukrainian and Black Sea airspace, the impasse appeared total. Hours before Mr Yatsenyuk met Mr Obama, the G-7 issued a joint statement declaring they would not recognise the referendum, which the West regards as illegal. “We call on the Russian Federation to immediately halt actions supporting a referendum on the territory of Crimea regarding its status, in direct violation of the constitution of Ukraine,” the statement said.
Thus far Moscow has brushed off every Western retaliation, from visa bans affecting unspecified individuals to the threat of economic sanctions and the suspension of planning for the annual G-8 summit scheduled for Sochi in June. It continues to show no sign of budging. But that demand seemed certain to fall on deaf ears. Thus far Moscow has brushed off every Western retaliation – from visa bans affecting unspecified individuals to the threat of economic sanctions and the suspension of planning for the G-8 summit scheduled for Sochi in June.
Even so, the two sides are continuing to talk, if only past each other. In the latest such contact, Mr Putin spoke by phone with President Francois Hollande of France, but the differing accounts of the conversation only underscored the gulf between them. For the Kremlin, it was a chance to discuss ways of gaining “international support” for a solution to the crisis. In Paris, a spokesman said that Mr Hollande denounced Russia’s “unacceptable annexation” of Crimea. Even so, the two sides are continuing to talk, if only past each other. Today Mr Putin spoke by phone with President François Hollande of France, but the differing accounts of the conversation merely underlined the gulf between them. For the Kremlin, it was a chance to discuss ways of gaining “international support” for a solution to the crisis. In Paris, Mr Hollande denounced the “unacceptable annexation” of Crimea.
Separately, Secretary of State John Kerry is holding hastily arranged talks in London tomorrow] with his Russian opposite number Sergei Lavrov. Mr Kerry said he would be bringing “a series of options” to resolve the dispute. Separately, the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, is holding hastily arranged talks in London tomorrow with  his Russian opposite number Sergei Lavrov.
Mr Yatsenyuk however – who will take his case to the United Nations in New York today – was trying to turn symbolic support into firm financial assistance, not least to boost Ukraine’s defences against a Russia that, he said, was “armed to the teeth.” Meanwhile Mr Yatsenyuk was trying to turn symbolic support into financial assistance, not least to boost defences against a Russia that is “armed to the teeth”.
Today the Senate was voting on sanctions against Russian officials and financial support for the almost-bankrupt Ukrainian state. While the EU has promised $15bn of aid, the US thus far has offered loan guarantees worth only $1bn, yet to be approved by Congress. But even the larger sum falls well short of the $35bn which the Ukrainian authorities say is needed by the end of 2015 to stave off financial collapse.