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U.S.-Russia Talks On Ukraine Fail To Ease Tension U.S.-Russia Talks on Ukraine Fail to Ease Tension
(37 minutes later)
LONDON — An 11th-hour bid by Secretary of State John Kerry to ease the escalating crisis over the Kremlin’s intervention in Crimea ended in failure on Friday, raising the likelihood of sanctions against Russia and deepening the most serious East-West rift since the end of the Cold War.LONDON — An 11th-hour bid by Secretary of State John Kerry to ease the escalating crisis over the Kremlin’s intervention in Crimea ended in failure on Friday, raising the likelihood of sanctions against Russia and deepening the most serious East-West rift since the end of the Cold War.
American officials said they presented a range of ideas on how a compromise over Crimea might be achieved, including arrangements to expand the peninsula’s autonomy and safeguard the rights of the Russian-speaking population.American officials said they presented a range of ideas on how a compromise over Crimea might be achieved, including arrangements to expand the peninsula’s autonomy and safeguard the rights of the Russian-speaking population.
But the officials said that Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, appeared to have little or no leeway to negotiate and that President Vladimir V. Putin was determined that Crimea’s referendum on seceding from Ukraine should proceed on Sunday.But the officials said that Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, appeared to have little or no leeway to negotiate and that President Vladimir V. Putin was determined that Crimea’s referendum on seceding from Ukraine should proceed on Sunday.
“I presented a number of ideas on behalf of the president,” Mr. Kerry said in a news conference after the talks. “After much discussion, the foreign minister made it clear that President Putin is not prepared to make any decision on Ukraine until after the referendum on Sunday.”“I presented a number of ideas on behalf of the president,” Mr. Kerry said in a news conference after the talks. “After much discussion, the foreign minister made it clear that President Putin is not prepared to make any decision on Ukraine until after the referendum on Sunday.”
Mr. Kerry refused to treat Russia’s possible annexation of Crimea as a fait accompli, holding out hope that Mr. Putin might yet decide to resolve the crisis diplomatically after the referendum.Mr. Kerry refused to treat Russia’s possible annexation of Crimea as a fait accompli, holding out hope that Mr. Putin might yet decide to resolve the crisis diplomatically after the referendum.
But to many experts, Mr. Lavrov’s apparent lack of even minimal authority to explore a political compromise suggested that Mr. Putin’s decision to annex the peninsula was all but final. But to many experts, Mr. Lavrov’s apparent lack of even minimal authority to explore a political compromise suggested that Mr. Putin’s decision to annex the peninsula was all but final. That has left the two sides on a collision course, and Western officials suggested that sanctions could be imposed as early as Monday.
That has left the two sides on a collision course, and Western officials have suggested that sanctions could be imposed as early as Monday.
“There will be consequences” if Ukraine’s sovereignty is violated, President Obama told reporters as Mr. Kerry and Mr. Lavrov were meeting.“There will be consequences” if Ukraine’s sovereignty is violated, President Obama told reporters as Mr. Kerry and Mr. Lavrov were meeting.
Mr. Putin’s decision to call a snap exercise involving thousands of troops near Ukraine’s borders this week had raised fears that Russia might deepen the crisis by intervening militarily in eastern Ukraine on the pretext of defending ethnic Russians, just as it had in Crimea.Mr. Putin’s decision to call a snap exercise involving thousands of troops near Ukraine’s borders this week had raised fears that Russia might deepen the crisis by intervening militarily in eastern Ukraine on the pretext of defending ethnic Russians, just as it had in Crimea.
“Russia is aware of its responsibility for the lives of compatriots and fellow citizens in Ukraine and reserves the right to take people under protection,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.“Russia is aware of its responsibility for the lives of compatriots and fellow citizens in Ukraine and reserves the right to take people under protection,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
In London, Mr. Lavrov gave public assurances that Russia “does not have any plans to invade Eastern or Southern Ukraine” despite the buildup of Russian forces in regions along the Ukrainian border. But Mr. Kerry said the Russian foreign minister offered similar assurances in the days before the Kremlin sent troops into Crimea. In London, Mr. Lavrov gave public assurances that Russia “does not have any plans to invade eastern or southern Ukraine” despite the buildup of Russian forces in regions along the Ukrainian border. But Mr. Kerry said the Russian foreign minister offered similar assurances in the days before the Kremlin sent troops into Crimea.
Mr. Kerry said he had advanced proposals to “freeze” destabilizing military moves while talks proceeded, and hoped Mr. Lavrov would transmit them to Mr. Putin. But it was unclear if the Russian president was interested in considering them.Mr. Kerry said he had advanced proposals to “freeze” destabilizing military moves while talks proceeded, and hoped Mr. Lavrov would transmit them to Mr. Putin. But it was unclear if the Russian president was interested in considering them.
One Western official, who asked not to be named in order to discuss intelligence reports, said that the military maneuvers Mr. Putin ordered this week were an exercise in “political coercion, at a minimum.”One Western official, who asked not to be named in order to discuss intelligence reports, said that the military maneuvers Mr. Putin ordered this week were an exercise in “political coercion, at a minimum.”
Adding to the worries are reports that large numbers of Russians are being bused to the eastern Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv, Luhansk and Donetsk so that they can agitate against the new Ukrainian government under the supervision of Russian intelligence officers, the Western official said.Adding to the worries are reports that large numbers of Russians are being bused to the eastern Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv, Luhansk and Donetsk so that they can agitate against the new Ukrainian government under the supervision of Russian intelligence officers, the Western official said.
The marathon talks were held at Winfield House, the official residence of the American ambassador here, which sits in Regent’s Park amid one of the largest private gardens in London. The two diplomats took a couple of long walks away from their delegations to talk one-on-one. The marathon talks were held at Winfield House, the official residence of the American ambassador here, which sits in Regent’s Park amid one of the largest private gardens in London. The two diplomats took a couple of long walks away from their delegations to talk one on one.
At one point when Mr. Lavrov appeared to be at the limit of his instructions, he took a break to make a call to Moscow. After the talks resumed, Russia’s Foreign Ministry tweeted a photo of Mr. Kerry and Mr. Lavrov ambling through the grounds as they gently kicked a soccer ball.At one point when Mr. Lavrov appeared to be at the limit of his instructions, he took a break to make a call to Moscow. After the talks resumed, Russia’s Foreign Ministry tweeted a photo of Mr. Kerry and Mr. Lavrov ambling through the grounds as they gently kicked a soccer ball.
“Break is over. Match continues,” the caption read.“Break is over. Match continues,” the caption read.
Still, no significant headway was made.Still, no significant headway was made.
For his part, Mr. Putin spoke by telephone with the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, on Friday, the Kremlin said in a statement, and emphasized that the decision to hold the referendum on Crimea’s status “fully complies with international law and the United Nations Charter.”For his part, Mr. Putin spoke by telephone with the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, on Friday, the Kremlin said in a statement, and emphasized that the decision to hold the referendum on Crimea’s status “fully complies with international law and the United Nations Charter.”
Though Western officials acknowledge there is strong sentiment in Crimea for rejoining Russia, they say the referendum is illegal under Ukrainian law and is being held in the presence of as many as 20,000 Russian troops.Though Western officials acknowledge there is strong sentiment in Crimea for rejoining Russia, they say the referendum is illegal under Ukrainian law and is being held in the presence of as many as 20,000 Russian troops.
American officials said that United States and European sanctions against Russia would be put in effect early next week if the referendum took place on Sunday, and that more economic sanctions would be imposed if Russia escalates the conflict or annexes Crimea.American officials said that United States and European sanctions against Russia would be put in effect early next week if the referendum took place on Sunday, and that more economic sanctions would be imposed if Russia escalates the conflict or annexes Crimea.
On Friday evening, the White House announced that Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. would go to Poland and Lithuania next week to reassure leaders in Eastern Europe and the Baltics of American and NATO support after the Crimea referendum. Mr. Biden is scheduled to meet with the Polish president and prime minister on Tuesday. A day later, he will meet in Vilnius with the presidents of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia — all former Soviet satellites rattled by the recent Russian moves in Ukraine.On Friday evening, the White House announced that Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. would go to Poland and Lithuania next week to reassure leaders in Eastern Europe and the Baltics of American and NATO support after the Crimea referendum. Mr. Biden is scheduled to meet with the Polish president and prime minister on Tuesday. A day later, he will meet in Vilnius with the presidents of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia — all former Soviet satellites rattled by the recent Russian moves in Ukraine.
A major question for the United States and its partners is whether Mr. Putin’s strategy is limited to protecting Russian interests in Crimea or is the first move in a broader campaign to undermine Ukraine’s new government and weaken its authority over the eastern portion of the country.A major question for the United States and its partners is whether Mr. Putin’s strategy is limited to protecting Russian interests in Crimea or is the first move in a broader campaign to undermine Ukraine’s new government and weaken its authority over the eastern portion of the country.
Mr. Lavrov did not shed any light on that question, but he did blame Western nations for aggravating the crisis.Mr. Lavrov did not shed any light on that question, but he did blame Western nations for aggravating the crisis.
“We don’t have a common vision of the situation,” Mr. Lavrov said during his appearance after the talks, which he nonetheless called helpful in clarifying the seemingly intractable positions. “Our differences remain.”“We don’t have a common vision of the situation,” Mr. Lavrov said during his appearance after the talks, which he nonetheless called helpful in clarifying the seemingly intractable positions. “Our differences remain.”
Mr. Lavrov also compared Crimea to territories that other nations have gone to great lengths to protect, saying that for Russia the peninsula “means immeasurably more than the Comoros for France or the Falklands for Britain.”Mr. Lavrov also compared Crimea to territories that other nations have gone to great lengths to protect, saying that for Russia the peninsula “means immeasurably more than the Comoros for France or the Falklands for Britain.”
He refused to say whether Russia would move to recognize Crimea as an independent state or to absorb it as a region of the Russian Federation. Instead, he repeated Mr. Putin’s pledge to “respect the choice” of voters in the referendum on Sunday, after which Russia would announce its next steps.He refused to say whether Russia would move to recognize Crimea as an independent state or to absorb it as a region of the Russian Federation. Instead, he repeated Mr. Putin’s pledge to “respect the choice” of voters in the referendum on Sunday, after which Russia would announce its next steps.
Mr. Lavrov brushed aside the threats of sanctions and other punitive measures, made by President Obama and European leaders, saying sanctions that have been widely discussed by officials and reported in the news media would be “a counterproductive instrument.”Mr. Lavrov brushed aside the threats of sanctions and other punitive measures, made by President Obama and European leaders, saying sanctions that have been widely discussed by officials and reported in the news media would be “a counterproductive instrument.”
In Kiev, Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, and Senator Richard J. Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, called on the United States to quickly ship American weapons to Ukraine to fortify its army for a potential war with Russia.In Kiev, Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, and Senator Richard J. Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, called on the United States to quickly ship American weapons to Ukraine to fortify its army for a potential war with Russia.
The Ukrainian Army has only “a few thousand combat-ready troops,” Senator McCain said. “They would be overwhelmed by the Russians if it came to that. One of their urgent requests is to have us supply them with weapons. I’ll be urging our administration to arrange for that as quickly as possible.”The Ukrainian Army has only “a few thousand combat-ready troops,” Senator McCain said. “They would be overwhelmed by the Russians if it came to that. One of their urgent requests is to have us supply them with weapons. I’ll be urging our administration to arrange for that as quickly as possible.”
The senators led a bipartisan delegation on a visit to Independence Square, the site of protests that led to the ouster of President Viktor F. Yanukovych, to show support for the interim government on Ukraine. They laid flowers on a barricade turned into a memorial and toured Institutska Street, where many protesters were killed in clashes last month.The senators led a bipartisan delegation on a visit to Independence Square, the site of protests that led to the ouster of President Viktor F. Yanukovych, to show support for the interim government on Ukraine. They laid flowers on a barricade turned into a memorial and toured Institutska Street, where many protesters were killed in clashes last month.
“It’s pretty sobering to come here,” said Senator Jeff Flake, an Arizona Republican. “I saw the bullet holes in the lampposts. It speaks to the great determination of the Ukrainian people. And that determination will be needed in the coming weeks and months.”“It’s pretty sobering to come here,” said Senator Jeff Flake, an Arizona Republican. “I saw the bullet holes in the lampposts. It speaks to the great determination of the Ukrainian people. And that determination will be needed in the coming weeks and months.”