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| Kerry in London to defuse Ukraine crisis before Sunday vote | Kerry in London to defuse Ukraine crisis before Sunday vote |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| LONDON — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday morning started talks with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov in a diplomatic push to ease the crisis over Russia’s military presence in a southern region of Ukraine. | |
| But even as the two shook hands and met at the home of the U.S. ambassador in London, the rhetoric from Moscow continued to be harsh. | But even as the two shook hands and met at the home of the U.S. ambassador in London, the rhetoric from Moscow continued to be harsh. |
| After clashes between pro- and anti-Russian demonstrators in the Ukrainian city of Donetsk led to the death of one protester, Russia warned that it “reserves the right to take people under our protection” — language that could threaten a deeper military push. | |
| In recent days the continued gathering of Russian troops along the border and the deepening Russian grip on Crimea have unnerved Ukrainians and left the country’s fledgling government concerned about further Russian military action. On Friday the Russian Interfax news agency reported that a newly announced series of military exercises had expanded to included training missions for fighter jets and helicopters. Ukrainian military officials reported seizure of another base in Crimea, a radar facility taken by Russian Federation soldiers around 3 a.m. Friday. | |
| “We have said more than once that the authorities that came to power in Kiev ought to disarm the militants and ensure the security of the population,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement, referring to the provisional government that took power last month in Ukraine. “Regrettably, as the events in Ukraine have shown, this is not so, and the Kiev authorities are not controlling the situation in the country.” The protester who was killed was identified as Dmytro Chernyavskiy, the press secretary of the regional branch of a pro-Ukrainian ultra-nationalist party. | |
| The session between Kerry and Lavrov began around 6:30 a.m. Washington time, and ahead of the meeting Kerry said he hoped to end a standoff that threatens to divide Ukraine and lead the United States and Europe to impose economic and other sanctions against Moscow. | |
| “I look forward to an opportunity to dig into the issues and possibilities that we may be able to find about how to move forward together to resolve some of the differences between us,” Kerry said after ushering Lavrov into the sumptuous reception room of Winfield House, the central London home of the U.S. ambassador. | “I look forward to an opportunity to dig into the issues and possibilities that we may be able to find about how to move forward together to resolve some of the differences between us,” Kerry said after ushering Lavrov into the sumptuous reception room of Winfield House, the central London home of the U.S. ambassador. |
| There was a handshake but few smiles and none of the jocularity that frequently marks Kerry’s meetings with Lavrov, a veteran diplomat with a quick wit and flawless English. | There was a handshake but few smiles and none of the jocularity that frequently marks Kerry’s meetings with Lavrov, a veteran diplomat with a quick wit and flawless English. |
| A grim-faced Lavrov spoke briefly in Russian, saying he was “satisfied” to see the American diplomat. | A grim-faced Lavrov spoke briefly in Russian, saying he was “satisfied” to see the American diplomat. |
| “This is a difficult situation we are in,” Lavrov said through an interpreter. “Many events have happened, and a lot of time has been lost, so now we have to see what can be done.” | “This is a difficult situation we are in,” Lavrov said through an interpreter. “Many events have happened, and a lot of time has been lost, so now we have to see what can be done.” |
| The meeting comes 48 hours before a planned referendum in the Crimea region over whether to remain as an autonomous province of Ukraine or to join Russia. | The meeting comes 48 hours before a planned referendum in the Crimea region over whether to remain as an autonomous province of Ukraine or to join Russia. |
| The vote will be held under the eye of Russian troops who effectively took control of Crimea late last month, after protestors 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 eye of Russian troops who effectively took control of Crimea late last month, after protestors 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. |
| In the Crimean capital Sevastopol, campaigning for Sunday’s referendum was in high gear. Vans with megaphones blared Russian music from the streets around 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 (Russian President Vladimir) 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,” | |
| Ahead of Kerry’s visit, a senior U.S. official said he would raise with Lavrov possible concessions by the interim Ukrainian government to ease tension and satisfy some of Russia’s concerns. Ukraine’s interim prime minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, met with President Obama in Washington on Wednesday, and told his U.S. hosts that his government could offer some face-saving gestures to Moscow. | Ahead of Kerry’s visit, a senior U.S. official said he would raise with Lavrov possible concessions by the interim Ukrainian government to ease tension and satisfy some of Russia’s concerns. Ukraine’s interim prime minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, met with President Obama in Washington on Wednesday, and told his U.S. hosts that his government could offer some face-saving gestures to Moscow. |
| “He made clear that they want to negotiate, that they want a political solution, that they believe that with international support this could be de-escalated,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe closed-door diplomatic sessions. | “He made clear that they want to negotiate, that they want a political solution, that they believe that with international support this could be de-escalated,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe closed-door diplomatic sessions. |
| “If there are legitimate concerns about minority rights, about security of the bases, they’d be delighted to have international observers in and international support in...They are prepared to work with Russia,” the official said. “They’re prepared to consider the highest possible degree of autonomy for Crimea inside of Ukraine, but what they will not do is sacrifice the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine.” | “If there are legitimate concerns about minority rights, about security of the bases, they’d be delighted to have international observers in and international support in...They are prepared to work with Russia,” the official said. “They’re prepared to consider the highest possible degree of autonomy for Crimea inside of Ukraine, but what they will not do is sacrifice the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine.” |
| The official said Kerry was seeking a pledge from Lavrov not to worsen the situation by expanding the Russian military presence or using local militias to threaten towns outside Crimea. The United States also wants Russian forces to return to their barracks, and allow international human rights monitors to move freely in Crimea. | The official said Kerry was seeking a pledge from Lavrov not to worsen the situation by expanding the Russian military presence or using local militias to threaten towns outside Crimea. The United States also wants Russian forces to return to their barracks, and allow international human rights monitors to move freely in Crimea. |
| “We are going to give diplomacy every chance,” the official said. “We are going to present within the context of a unified, sovereign Ukraine the best offer for de-escalation that the Ukrainian people can accept and see if Russia is prepared to take that off-ramp.” | “We are going to give diplomacy every chance,” the official said. “We are going to present within the context of a unified, sovereign Ukraine the best offer for de-escalation that the Ukrainian people can accept and see if Russia is prepared to take that off-ramp.” |
| U.S. officials have all but conceded that there is nothing they - or even Lavrov - could do to stop the Sunday referendum. Kerry said Thursday he assumes it will go ahead, and that U.S. sanctions will follow. The focus now is on ways to blunt the effect of the vote. | U.S. officials have all but conceded that there is nothing they - or even Lavrov - could do to stop the Sunday referendum. Kerry said Thursday he assumes it will go ahead, and that U.S. sanctions will follow. The focus now is on ways to blunt the effect of the vote. |
| “Crimeans seem bound and determined to go forward with this. It will not have force of law in Ukraine. It will not have force of law in Russia or anywhere in the international community in and of itself,” the U.S. official said. “We will be interested also to hear from Foreign Minister Lavrov how Russia sees this.” | “Crimeans seem bound and determined to go forward with this. It will not have force of law in Ukraine. It will not have force of law in Russia or anywhere in the international community in and of itself,” the U.S. official said. “We will be interested also to hear from Foreign Minister Lavrov how Russia sees this.” |
| Kerry arrived early Friday in London and met immediately with British Prime Minister David Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague. Among Western European allies, Britain has been among the strongest advocates of a tough line on Ukraine. | Kerry arrived early Friday in London and met immediately with British Prime Minister David Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague. Among Western European allies, Britain has been among the strongest advocates of a tough line on Ukraine. |
| Kerry thanked Cameron on behalf of President Obama “for Europe’s unity and your strong position.” | Kerry thanked Cameron on behalf of President Obama “for Europe’s unity and your strong position.” |
| Kept away from No. 10 Downing St., on the opposite side of a busy London road, was a small demonstration by Ukrainian protestors with the country’s blue and yellow flags. They displayed posters asking that “NATO save Ukraine.” | Kept away from No. 10 Downing St., on the opposite side of a busy London road, was a small demonstration by Ukrainian protestors with the country’s blue and yellow flags. They displayed posters asking that “NATO save Ukraine.” |
| “We want to see progress as much as you do,” Cameron told Kerry. “We want to see Ukrainians and the Russians talking to each other. And if they don’t then there are going to have to be consequences.” | “We want to see progress as much as you do,” Cameron told Kerry. “We want to see Ukrainians and the Russians talking to each other. And if they don’t then there are going to have to be consequences.” |
| The United States, Britain and other European nations have tried unsuccessfully for more than a week to begin talks among Russia, the interim Ukrainian government and other nations. | The United States, Britain and other European nations have tried unsuccessfully for more than a week to begin talks among Russia, the interim Ukrainian government and other nations. |
| “I think the alignment of Britain and the European Union with the position that the United States is taking is absolutely right. We must keep at them.” | “I think the alignment of Britain and the European Union with the position that the United States is taking is absolutely right. We must keep at them.” |
| Lally reported from Moscow. Carol Morello in Simferopol contributed to this report. |