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Obama: Russia must pull back troops Obama: Russia must pull back troops from Ukraine border
(35 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama has urged Russia to "move back its troops" on Ukraine's border and lower tensions.US President Barack Obama has urged Russia to "move back its troops" on Ukraine's border and lower tensions.
Russia is believed to have massed a force of several thousand troops close to Ukraine's eastern frontier.Russia is believed to have massed a force of several thousand troops close to Ukraine's eastern frontier.
Mr Obama told CBS News it may "be an effort to intimidate Ukraine, or it may be that [Russia has] additional plans."Mr Obama told CBS News it may "be an effort to intimidate Ukraine, or it may be that [Russia has] additional plans."
Meanwhile, a Russian security official has said intelligence measures are being stepped up to counter Western threats to Moscow's influence.Meanwhile, a Russian security official has said intelligence measures are being stepped up to counter Western threats to Moscow's influence.
"There has been a sharp increase in external threats to the state. The lawful desire of the peoples of Crimea and eastern Ukrainian regions is causing hysteria in the United States and its allies," Federal Security Service (FSB) deputy head Alexander Malevany was quoted as saying by Interfax."There has been a sharp increase in external threats to the state. The lawful desire of the peoples of Crimea and eastern Ukrainian regions is causing hysteria in the United States and its allies," Federal Security Service (FSB) deputy head Alexander Malevany was quoted as saying by Interfax.
He said Moscow was taking "offensive intelligence measures" to counter Western efforts to "weaken Russian influence in a region that is of vital importance".He said Moscow was taking "offensive intelligence measures" to counter Western efforts to "weaken Russian influence in a region that is of vital importance".
President Obama, in the CBS interview recorded before he left Italy on Thursday, said President Vladimir Putin had been "willing to show a deeply-held grievance about what he considers to be the loss of the Soviet Union". Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the organisation was extremely worried about a "huge military build-up" on Ukraine's borders.
He said Nato had plans in place to ensure effective defence and protection for all its members, including the three Baltic states - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Mr Obama, in his interview recorded before he left Europe on Thursday, said President Vladimir Putin had been "willing to show a deeply-held grievance about what he considers to be the loss of the Soviet Union".
But he warned that the Russian leader should not "revert back to the kinds of practices that were so prevalent during the Cold War".But he warned that the Russian leader should not "revert back to the kinds of practices that were so prevalent during the Cold War".
'Putin misreading US''Putin misreading US'
"I think there's a strong sense of Russian nationalism and a sense that somehow the West has taken advantage of Russia in the past, " Mr Obama said. "What I have repeatedly said is that he may be entirely misreading the West. He's certainly misreading American foreign policy.""I think there's a strong sense of Russian nationalism and a sense that somehow the West has taken advantage of Russia in the past, " Mr Obama said. "What I have repeatedly said is that he may be entirely misreading the West. He's certainly misreading American foreign policy."
Mr Obama said the US has "no interest in circling Russia" and "no interest in Ukraine beyond letting Ukrainian people make their own decisions about their own lives." Mr Obama said the US has "no interest in circling Russia" and "no interest in Ukraine beyond letting Ukrainian people make their own decisions about their own lives".
Earlier, ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, who fled to Russia last month, called for a national referendum to determine each region's "status within Ukraine".Earlier, ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, who fled to Russia last month, called for a national referendum to determine each region's "status within Ukraine".
He was replaced after massive demonstrations and clashes between protesters and police in which more than 100 people died. The Kremlin says the new government in Kiev came to power illegally.He was replaced after massive demonstrations and clashes between protesters and police in which more than 100 people died. The Kremlin says the new government in Kiev came to power illegally.
Former opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko, who announced that she would run for president of Ukraine in May elections, said on Friday that she was sure Mr Yanukovych would stand trial one day for calling for the country to be broken up. Ukraine's former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who has announced that she will run for president in May's elections, said on Friday that she was sure Mr Yanukovych would stand trial one day for calling for the country to be broken up.
"If these really are his words, then this once again proves that the person who was once the president of Ukraine has effectively turned into a tool used for Ukraine's destruction," Ms Tymoshenko told reporters."If these really are his words, then this once again proves that the person who was once the president of Ukraine has effectively turned into a tool used for Ukraine's destruction," Ms Tymoshenko told reporters.
Ukraine is not a member of Nato and would not be covered by the collective defence agreement in the Nato treaty.
The organisation has already announced enhanced air policing over the three Baltic states - the only countries formerly part of the Soviet Union which are now Nato members.