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| Obama, in Brussels speech, prods Europe to stand up to Russia, bolster NATO | Obama, in Brussels speech, prods Europe to stand up to Russia, bolster NATO |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| BRUSSELS — President Obama attempted Wednesday to rouse Europe to confront Russia’s military seizure of Crimea, framing the West’s confrontation with Russian President Vladimir Putin as a clash of ideologies lingering from the Cold War. | BRUSSELS — President Obama attempted Wednesday to rouse Europe to confront Russia’s military seizure of Crimea, framing the West’s confrontation with Russian President Vladimir Putin as a clash of ideologies lingering from the Cold War. |
| In a speech Wednesday evening at the Palais des Beaux-Arts, Obama made the case in broad strokes for U.S. and European unity, for sanctions against Russia that could also damage still-fragile European economies and for help leveraging American power that he made clear in this case does not include military force. | In a speech Wednesday evening at the Palais des Beaux-Arts, Obama made the case in broad strokes for U.S. and European unity, for sanctions against Russia that could also damage still-fragile European economies and for help leveraging American power that he made clear in this case does not include military force. |
| Using the museum as a cultural counterpoint to Russia’s display of force against Ukraine in recent weeks, Obama stressed that Moscow’s moves endanger not only that country but the entire international system that Europe and the United States have built over the years, a system that also has been vital to the progress of democracy and international law around the world. | Using the museum as a cultural counterpoint to Russia’s display of force against Ukraine in recent weeks, Obama stressed that Moscow’s moves endanger not only that country but the entire international system that Europe and the United States have built over the years, a system that also has been vital to the progress of democracy and international law around the world. |
| “Now is not the time for bluster,” Obama told an audience that, as has become his practice abroad, consisted mostly of young people. “The situation in Ukraine, like crises in many parts of the world, does not have easy answers, nor a military solution. But at this moment, we must meet the challenge to our ideals — to our very international order — with strength and conviction.” | “Now is not the time for bluster,” Obama told an audience that, as has become his practice abroad, consisted mostly of young people. “The situation in Ukraine, like crises in many parts of the world, does not have easy answers, nor a military solution. But at this moment, we must meet the challenge to our ideals — to our very international order — with strength and conviction.” |
| Echoing themes from a similar speech against complacency that he delivered last year in Berlin, Obama warned the European public, which he conceded might view Ukraine as a distant problem, that “we cannot count on others to rise to meet those tests.” | Echoing themes from a similar speech against complacency that he delivered last year in Berlin, Obama warned the European public, which he conceded might view Ukraine as a distant problem, that “we cannot count on others to rise to meet those tests.” |
| “The policies of your government — the principles of your European Union — will make a difference in whether or not the international order that so many generations before you have strived for continues to move forward, or whether it retreats,” he said. | “The policies of your government — the principles of your European Union — will make a difference in whether or not the international order that so many generations before you have strived for continues to move forward, or whether it retreats,” he said. |
| Obama’s address here provided the central message of his three-country tour of Europe, and it began as a specific accounting of the West’s political values and how those contrast with Russia’s annexation of Crimea following a referendum that much of the world has called illegal. | Obama’s address here provided the central message of his three-country tour of Europe, and it began as a specific accounting of the West’s political values and how those contrast with Russia’s annexation of Crimea following a referendum that much of the world has called illegal. |
| The roughly half-hour speech ended largely as an argument with an absent counterpart — Putin — with Obama raising the Russian president’s arguments for military intervention in Ukraine and then rebutting them for a crowd more rapt than rowdy in the formal setting. | The roughly half-hour speech ended largely as an argument with an absent counterpart — Putin — with Obama raising the Russian president’s arguments for military intervention in Ukraine and then rebutting them for a crowd more rapt than rowdy in the formal setting. |
| Touching on 20th-century European history, the decolonization and democratization of the developing world, and America’s own civil rights movement, Obama warned that the political progress and prosperity known by this generation of Europeans are not secure from the “older, more traditional view of power” that Putin is employing along his borders. | Touching on 20th-century European history, the decolonization and democratization of the developing world, and America’s own civil rights movement, Obama warned that the political progress and prosperity known by this generation of Europeans are not secure from the “older, more traditional view of power” that Putin is employing along his borders. |
| “I come here today to insist that we must never take for granted the progress that has been won here in Europe and advanced around the world,” Obama said. “Because the contest of ideas continues for your generation. And that is what’s at stake in Ukraine today.” | “I come here today to insist that we must never take for granted the progress that has been won here in Europe and advanced around the world,” Obama said. “Because the contest of ideas continues for your generation. And that is what’s at stake in Ukraine today.” |
| Among the more surprising moments came when Obama used the Iraq war to argue that, even when seeming to stray from the values he celebrated, the United States has attempted to act within the international order. | Among the more surprising moments came when Obama used the Iraq war to argue that, even when seeming to stray from the values he celebrated, the United States has attempted to act within the international order. |
| Obama, then a senator, opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq — calling it a “dumb war” — and his comments here amounted to the most generous accounting of the conflict he has delivered in office. His opposition helped propel him through a crowded Democratic primary field in 2008 and, eventually, to the presidency. | Obama, then a senator, opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq — calling it a “dumb war” — and his comments here amounted to the most generous accounting of the conflict he has delivered in office. His opposition helped propel him through a crowded Democratic primary field in 2008 and, eventually, to the presidency. |
| “Russia has pointed to America’s decision to go into Iraq as an example of Western hypocrisy,” Obama said, noting his own opposition to the war. “But even in Iraq, America sought to work within the international system.” | “Russia has pointed to America’s decision to go into Iraq as an example of Western hypocrisy,” Obama said, noting his own opposition to the war. “But even in Iraq, America sought to work within the international system.” |
| Addressing a continent strongly opposed to the Iraq invasion, Obama said the United States “did not claim or annex Iraq’s territory, nor did we grab its resources for our own gain.” | Addressing a continent strongly opposed to the Iraq invasion, Obama said the United States “did not claim or annex Iraq’s territory, nor did we grab its resources for our own gain.” |
| “Instead, we ended our war and left Iraq to its people, and a fully sovereign Iraqi state could make decisions about its own future,” he said, adding that “neither the United States, nor Europe, are perfect in adherence to our ideals.” | “Instead, we ended our war and left Iraq to its people, and a fully sovereign Iraqi state could make decisions about its own future,” he said, adding that “neither the United States, nor Europe, are perfect in adherence to our ideals.” |
| “We are human, after all, and face difficult choices about how to exercise our power,” he said. | “We are human, after all, and face difficult choices about how to exercise our power,” he said. |
| Obama made the remarks after warning European leaders earlier Wednesday that nations must “chip in” fairly to ensure a NATO capable of deterring an expansionist Russia, and he placed the responsibility largely on the continent to resolve its dependence on Russian energy. | Obama made the remarks after warning European leaders earlier Wednesday that nations must “chip in” fairly to ensure a NATO capable of deterring an expansionist Russia, and he placed the responsibility largely on the continent to resolve its dependence on Russian energy. |
| Speaking at a news conference after meeting with European Union leaders, Obama noted that he has been concerned by declining defense budgets among some NATO members, a complaint he has allowed other administration officials to make in the past. | Speaking at a news conference after meeting with European Union leaders, Obama noted that he has been concerned by declining defense budgets among some NATO members, a complaint he has allowed other administration officials to make in the past. |
| His words were a pointed reminder that despite U.S. involvement in seeking to prevent Putin from advancing further beyond Russia’s borders, European leaders must be ready to pay more for their defense. | His words were a pointed reminder that despite U.S. involvement in seeking to prevent Putin from advancing further beyond Russia’s borders, European leaders must be ready to pay more for their defense. |
| “If we have collective defense, it means everyone’s got to chip in,” Obama said, appearing after meeting with Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council, and Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission. He spoke a day after he called Russia a “regional power” that, after having annexed Ukraine’s autonomous Crimea region, is threatening its neighbors in a sign of weakness rather than strength. | “If we have collective defense, it means everyone’s got to chip in,” Obama said, appearing after meeting with Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council, and Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission. He spoke a day after he called Russia a “regional power” that, after having annexed Ukraine’s autonomous Crimea region, is threatening its neighbors in a sign of weakness rather than strength. |
| Obama cited declining “trend lines” in defense spending among some NATO members, cutbacks he called expected given the financial straits that many European nations have found themselves in over the past five years. | Obama cited declining “trend lines” in defense spending among some NATO members, cutbacks he called expected given the financial straits that many European nations have found themselves in over the past five years. |
| But he said members of NATO must now recommit to defense spending, especially as the United States enters the final months of its post-Sept. 11, 2001, wars. | But he said members of NATO must now recommit to defense spending, especially as the United States enters the final months of its post-Sept. 11, 2001, wars. |
| Obama met later with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, where Obama pledged to help increase ground, air and naval forces as part of NATO operations, particularly in Eastern Europe. | Obama met later with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, where Obama pledged to help increase ground, air and naval forces as part of NATO operations, particularly in Eastern Europe. |
| Administration officials said such NATO planning will take place over the coming weeks, designed to reassure members of the U.S. commitment to the collective defense promise at the heart of the alliance. | Administration officials said such NATO planning will take place over the coming weeks, designed to reassure members of the U.S. commitment to the collective defense promise at the heart of the alliance. |
| “Our freedom isn’t free, and we have to be able to pay for the assets, the personnel, and the training to make sure we have a credible NATO force and an effective deterrent force,” Obama said. “Everyone is going to have to make sure they are engaged and involved, and I think that will help build more confidence among member states.” | “Our freedom isn’t free, and we have to be able to pay for the assets, the personnel, and the training to make sure we have a credible NATO force and an effective deterrent force,” Obama said. “Everyone is going to have to make sure they are engaged and involved, and I think that will help build more confidence among member states.” |
| As Obama began his first visit here, European and Ukrainian officials pushed ahead on Wednesday with a plan to strengthen ties, a task made more urgent by Russia’s takeover of Crimea this month and concern over further threats. | As Obama began his first visit here, European and Ukrainian officials pushed ahead on Wednesday with a plan to strengthen ties, a task made more urgent by Russia’s takeover of Crimea this month and concern over further threats. |
| Ukraine signed an Association Agreement with the E.U. last week — in the process spurning a closer economic alliance with Russia. A last-minute refusal by then-President Viktor Yanukovych to sign the agreement in November led to weeks of protests and his overthrow in February — triggering Russia’s move into the Crimean Peninsula. | |
| The detailed work on a political association between Ukraine and the E.U. is running parallel to economic reform negotiations with the International Monetary Fund to pave the way for a loan package of as much as $15 billion. | The detailed work on a political association between Ukraine and the E.U. is running parallel to economic reform negotiations with the International Monetary Fund to pave the way for a loan package of as much as $15 billion. |
| In tandem, the two sets of negotiations are meant to insulate Ukraine’s new government against economic pressure from Moscow, and to draw the country closer to Western Europe. The political agreement is to include measures that will bring Ukrainian courts and other institutions in line with European standards. Free trade and other aspects of the agreement are to be discussed after a May 25 presidential election. | In tandem, the two sets of negotiations are meant to insulate Ukraine’s new government against economic pressure from Moscow, and to draw the country closer to Western Europe. The political agreement is to include measures that will bring Ukrainian courts and other institutions in line with European standards. Free trade and other aspects of the agreement are to be discussed after a May 25 presidential election. |
| Tensions between Ukraine and Russia remained high Wednesday, with Russia accusing Ukraine of forcing crews of Aeroflot flights to Ukraine to remain on board their planes instead of disembarking as usual. | Tensions between Ukraine and Russia remained high Wednesday, with Russia accusing Ukraine of forcing crews of Aeroflot flights to Ukraine to remain on board their planes instead of disembarking as usual. |
| This is Obama’s first visit to the bureaucratic heart of post-Cold War Europe, a vision of borderless trade, common currency and a mobile labor pool that he said this week at The Hague is threatened by Putin’s military turn. | This is Obama’s first visit to the bureaucratic heart of post-Cold War Europe, a vision of borderless trade, common currency and a mobile labor pool that he said this week at The Hague is threatened by Putin’s military turn. |
| Putin’s move into Crimea suggests a historic account unsettled, and a military method of settling it that Obama has called out of place in this century. | Putin’s move into Crimea suggests a historic account unsettled, and a military method of settling it that Obama has called out of place in this century. |
| Obama has spoken to the continent of Europe on several occasions — as a hopeful presidential candidate in 2008, as a new president memorializing the dead at Normandy, and most recently as a second-term president hoping to stir his allies from a complacency that he warned hovers over the prosperous developed world. | Obama has spoken to the continent of Europe on several occasions — as a hopeful presidential candidate in 2008, as a new president memorializing the dead at Normandy, and most recently as a second-term president hoping to stir his allies from a complacency that he warned hovers over the prosperous developed world. |
| On Wednesday, Barroso called Russia’s move on Crimea “a real wake-up call” for European leaders on the issue of energy. Although Obama pledged in the meeting Wednesday to help Europe think through energy strategies — and held out the potential of expanding U.S. natural gas exports to Europe — he made clear that the bulk of the burden must be managed by Europeans. | On Wednesday, Barroso called Russia’s move on Crimea “a real wake-up call” for European leaders on the issue of energy. Although Obama pledged in the meeting Wednesday to help Europe think through energy strategies — and held out the potential of expanding U.S. natural gas exports to Europe — he made clear that the bulk of the burden must be managed by Europeans. |
| "We have to do also our own work here in the European Union,” Barroso said. | |
| Over the course of his presidency, Obama has looked to the big stage, particularly the international stage, to set out challenges (Prague in 2009 where he outlined his aspiration to rid the world of nuclear weapons), change the tone of U.S. diplomacy (Cairo two months later when he asked the Muslim world for a “new beginning”), or explain himself (Oslo late that year when he argued in support of “just war” in accepting the Nobel Peace Prize). | Over the course of his presidency, Obama has looked to the big stage, particularly the international stage, to set out challenges (Prague in 2009 where he outlined his aspiration to rid the world of nuclear weapons), change the tone of U.S. diplomacy (Cairo two months later when he asked the Muslim world for a “new beginning”), or explain himself (Oslo late that year when he argued in support of “just war” in accepting the Nobel Peace Prize). |
| Less than a year ago, Obama spoke before the Brandenburg Gate, the first U.S. president to do so from what had been East Berlin. He celebrated the wall’s collapse, along with Cold War geopolitics. | Less than a year ago, Obama spoke before the Brandenburg Gate, the first U.S. president to do so from what had been East Berlin. He celebrated the wall’s collapse, along with Cold War geopolitics. |
| Obama began Wednesday moving back even further into Europe’s 20th century — visiting Belgium’s Flanders Field 52 miles west of Brussels to lay a wreath at the memorial for the 368 Americans killed on one of the grimmest World War I battlegrounds. | Obama began Wednesday moving back even further into Europe’s 20th century — visiting Belgium’s Flanders Field 52 miles west of Brussels to lay a wreath at the memorial for the 368 Americans killed on one of the grimmest World War I battlegrounds. |
| He spoke, briefly, alongside Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo and King Philippe, who guided him through the cemetery and fields, now sown with red poppies above the bodies of tens of thousands of fallen soldiers. | He spoke, briefly, alongside Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo and King Philippe, who guided him through the cemetery and fields, now sown with red poppies above the bodies of tens of thousands of fallen soldiers. |
| “It is impossible not to be awed by the profound sacrifice they made so that we may stand here today,” Obama said, adding that “here we saw that no soldier — and no nation — fought alone.” | |
| Kathy Lally in Kiev and William Branigin in Washington contributed to this report. | Kathy Lally in Kiev and William Branigin in Washington contributed to this report. |