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Talks in London between Kerry and Lavrov end with impasse on Ukraine Talks in London between Kerry and Lavrov end with impasse on Ukraine
(about 1 hour later)
LONDON — An 11th-hour U.S. effort to head off the growing confrontation with Russia over Ukraine failed Friday, and Moscow shipped more troops and armor into the flash point Crimean region ahead of a planned vote on breaking away from Ukraine and rejoining Russia. LONDON — An eleventh-hour U.S. effort to resolve the growing confrontation with Russia over Ukraine failed Friday, and Moscow shipped more troops and armor into the flash-point Crimea region ahead of a planned vote on breaking away from Ukraine and rejoining Russia.
Secretary of State John F. Kerry warned against a “back-door annexation” of the strategic Black Sea peninsula by Russia. But Kerry conceded that six hours of talks with Russia’s top diplomat here neither stopped Sunday’s vote nor opened a new diplomatic path for Moscow to step back from the Cold War-tinged standoff. Secretary of State John F. Kerry warned against a “backdoor annexation” by Russia of the strategic Black Sea peninsula. But Kerry conceded that six hours of talks here with Russia’s top diplomat neither stopped Sunday’s vote nor opened a new diplomatic path for Moscow to step back from the Cold War-tinged standoff.
U.S. and European sanctions on Russia, the most significant since the collapse of the Soviet Union, were all but certain. The most significant U.S. and European sanctions against Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union appeared all but certain.
“We don’t have a common vision of the situation,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said following crisis talks called by Kerry. “We don’t have a common vision of the situation,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after the crisis talks.
No agreements were reached, Lavrov told reporters in Russian. He stressed that Russia still insists on Crimea’s right to hold the referendum Sunday on independence. He said Russia would decide after the vote on how to respond. No agreements were reached, Lavrov told reporters. He stressed that Russia insists on Crimea’s right to hold the referendum. He said Russia would decide after the vote on how to respond.
When pressed by reporters about whether Russia would annex Crimea after the vote, he said, “There are no what-ifs in politics.” When pressed about whether Russia would annex Crimea after the vote, he said, “There are no what-ifs in politics.”
The meeting came 48 hours before the planned referendum in the Crimea region over whether to secede and join Russia or remain part of Ukraine with greater autonomy. Voters in Crimea will decide whether to secede from Ukraine and join Russia or remain part of Ukraine with greater autonomy.
The vote will be held under the eyes of Russian troops who effectively took control of Crimea late last month, after protesters overthrew the Ukrainian government. The Crimean regional parliament has already voted to leave Ukraine, and the traditionally pro-Russian population of Crimea is expected to approve the idea as well. The vote will be held under the eyes of Russian troops who effectively took control of Crimea late last month after protesters overthrew the Ukrainian government. The Crimean regional parliament has already voted to leave Ukraine, and the traditionally pro-Russian population of Crimea is expected to approve the idea as well.
[READ: Lavrov is the Russian foreign minister the U.S. loves to hate][READ: Lavrov is the Russian foreign minister the U.S. loves to hate]
Moscow’s tightening grip on Crimea and the gathering of Russian troops along the two countries’ borders have unnerved Ukrainians and left the country’s fledgling government concerned about further Russian military action. Kerry said those deployments had left the United States “deeply concerned.’’ Moscow’s tightening grip on Crimea and the gathering of Russian troops along the two countries’ border have unnerved Ukrainians and left the country’s fledgling government concerned about further Russian military action. Kerry said the United States was “deeply concerned” about those deployments.
The United States and other nations have been dangling a diplomatic out for Russia, tacitly acknowledging that the referendum and its pro-Russian outcome were a fait accompli but suggesting that Russia could then avert further escalation by leaving Crimea’s precise status vague. The United States and other nations have been dangling a diplomatic solution for Russia, tacitly acknowledging that the referendum would produce a pro-Russia outcome while suggesting that Russia could avert further escalation by leaving Crimea’s precise status vague.
But Kerry said Lavrov had made it clear that Russian President Vladimir Putin was not prepared to take that step. Lavrov said Russia will “respect” the results of the plebiscite, and it was clear from Kerry’s tone that the United States fears full annexation.But Kerry said Lavrov had made it clear that Russian President Vladimir Putin was not prepared to take that step. Lavrov said Russia will “respect” the results of the plebiscite, and it was clear from Kerry’s tone that the United States fears full annexation.
“We did not find common ground today on the way ahead,” said a senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to describe the roughly six hours of intensive discussions Friday. “We did not find common ground today on the way ahead,” said a senior U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the roughly six hours of intensive discussions Friday.
In Washington, President Obama stressed the continued need for “a strong message to Russia that it should not violate the integrity and sovereignty of its neighbor.”In Washington, President Obama stressed the continued need for “a strong message to Russia that it should not violate the integrity and sovereignty of its neighbor.”
The European Union is expected to impose travel bans and asset freezes Monday on Russians accused of complicity in Moscow’s military incursion and alleged intimidation of Crimea. The E.U. identified more than 120 potential individuals Friday. The European Union is expected to impose travel bans and asset freezes Monday on Russians accused of complicity in Moscow’s military incursion and the intimidation of Crimea. The E.U. on Friday identified more than 120 individuals as potential sanctions targets.
Speaking to reporters in London, Lavrov insisted that Russia had no plans to invade Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine. But he echoed a statement issued in Moscow by the Foreign Ministry, which warned that Russia “reserves the right to take people under our protection.’’ Overnight clashes between pro- and anti-Russian demonstrators in the Ukrainian city of Donetsk had led to the death of one protester. In London, Lavrov insisted that Russia had no plans to invade Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine. But he echoed a statement issued in Moscow by the Foreign Ministry warning that Russia “reserves the right to take people under our protection.’’ Overnight clashes between pro- and anti-Russian demonstrators in the Ukrainian city of Donetsk led to the death of one protester.
The protester who was killed was identified as Dmytro Chernyavskiy, the press secretary of the regional branch of a pro-Ukrainian ultra-nationalist party. Donetsk regional governor Sergey Taruta said in Kiev on Friday that the fighting was provoked by “non-Ukrainian citizens” and pro-Russian activists. That protester was identified as Dmytro Chernyavskiy, the press secretary of the regional branch of a pro-Ukrainian ultranationalist party. Donetsk regional governor Sergei Taruta said in Kiev on Friday that the fighting was provoked by “non-Ukrainian citizens” and pro-Russian activists.
Russia’s Interfax news agency reported Friday that a newly announced series of military exercises had expanded to include training missions for fighter jets and helicopters. Ukrainian military officials reported the seizure of another base in Crimea, this one a radar facility taken by Russian Federation soldiers around 3 a.m. Friday. Russia’s Interfax news agency reported Friday that a newly announced series of military exercises near Ukraine’s eastern border had expanded to include training missions for fighter jets and helicopters. Ukrainian military officials reported the seizure of another base in Crimea, a radar facility taken by Russian soldiers at about 3 a.m. Friday.
[Russia supporters in eastern Ukraine pose challenges to government][Russia supporters in eastern Ukraine pose challenges to government]
In the Crimean capital of Simferopol, campaigning for Sunday’s referendum was in high gear Friday. Vans with megaphones blared Russian music from the streets around the regional parliament, where a large Russian flag already flies. In the Crimean capital of Simferopol, campaigning for Sunday’s referendum was in high gear Friday. Vans with megaphones blared Russian music in the streets around the regional parliament, where a large Russian flag already flies.
Vasilyev Maxim, an official from the Russian city of Kursk, said he took $10,000 of his own money and drove to Crimea with thousands of Russian flags to distribute ahead of the vote. “In 30 years, the history books will say Putin took back Crimea to rebuild our country,” he said. “And no one will remember Kerry or that Obama had anything to do with the situation.’ ” Vasilyev Maxim, an official from the Russian city of Kursk, said he drove to Crimea with thousands of Russian flags purchased with $10,000 of his own money to distribute ahead of the vote. “In 30 years, the history books will say Putin took back Crimea to rebuild our country,” he said. “And no one will remember Kerry or that Obama had anything to do with the situation.’ ”
It remains unclear how Moscow will consider Crimea’s status, said Sergei Markedonov, an associate professor of regional studies and foreign policy at the Russian State University for the Humanities.It remains unclear how Moscow will consider Crimea’s status, said Sergei Markedonov, an associate professor of regional studies and foreign policy at the Russian State University for the Humanities.
Putin said at his recent news conference that Russia did not intend to annex Crimea, Markedonov pointed out, and he has not made any public statements to the contrary since then. Crimea could emerge as some kind of de facto state, like Nagorno-Karabakh in the South Caucasus, he said. Putin said at a recent news conference that Russia did not intend to annex Crimea, Markedonov pointed out, and the president has not made any public statements to the contrary since then. Crimea could emerge as a de facto state like Nagorno-Karabakh in the southern Caucasus, he said.
Lavrov told reporters that there were other precedents for Crimean independence besides Kosovo, referring to the Comoros Islands, which declared independence from France. Crimea, he said, meant far more to Russians than the Comoros did to France. Lavrov said at his news conference that there were other precedents for Crimean secession besides the often-cited example of Kosovo. He referred to the Comoros Islands, which declared independence from France.
The talks at the sumptuous central London home of the U.S. ambassador were always a long shot. The talks at the sumptuous central London home of the U.S. ambassador were always a long shot to succeed.
Lavrov, a quick-witted diplomat who is often jocular when meeting Kerry, was grim-faced as he entered the meeting. Although he speaks flawless English, he stuck to Russian and spoke through an interpreter as he referred to the “difficult situation we are in.” Lavrov, a quick-witted diplomat who is often jocular when meeting with Kerry, was grim-faced as he entered the meeting. Although he speaks flawless English, he stuck to Russian at his news conference and spoke through an interpreter as he referred to the “difficult situation we are in.”
The mood may have lightened somewhat as the session continued into the afternoon, far longer than planned. Lavrov’s spokeswoman tweeted a picture of the two men kicking a soccer ball in their dress shoes as they strolled the parklike grounds of the ambassador’s residence. The mood may have lightened somewhat as the session continued into the afternoon, far longer than planned. Lavrov’s spokeswoman tweeted a picture of the two men kicking a soccer ball in their dress shoes as they strolled the park-like grounds of the ambassador’s residence.
Lally reported from Moscow. Karla Adam in London and Carol Morello and Pamela Constable in Simferopol contributed to this report.Lally reported from Moscow. Karla Adam in London and Carol Morello and Pamela Constable in Simferopol contributed to this report.