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Ukraine crisis: Obama warns Russia that more sanctions are 'teed up' Ukraine crisis: Obama warns Russia that more sanctions are 'teed up'
(about 2 hours later)
Barack Obama has said Russia is failing to respect the Geneva agreement to de-escalate tensions in Ukraine and the US has fresh sanctions "teed up" to impose on Moscow. Barack Obama has said Russia is failing to respect the Geneva agreement to defuse tensions in Ukraine and the US has fresh sanctions "teed up" to impose on Moscow.
Under last week's accord struck by Ukraine, Russia, the US and the EU, militias in Ukraine were to disarm and give up control of seized state property. But law and order has deteriorated rapidly in parts of eastern Ukraine as Kiev and Moscow have accused each other of failing to follow through on Geneva. Under last week's accord struck by Ukraine, Russia, the US and the EU, militias in Ukraine were to disarm and give up control of seized state property. But law and order has deteriorated rapidly in parts of eastern Ukraine as Kiev and Moscow have accused each other of failing to follow through on the Geneva accord.
"So far at least we have seen them not abide by the spirit or the letter of the agreement in Geneva," Obama said in Tokyo at the start of a tour of Asia. "Instead we continue to see malicious, armed men taking over buildings, harassing folks who are disagreeing with them, destabilising the region and we haven't seen Russia step out and discouraging it.""So far at least we have seen them not abide by the spirit or the letter of the agreement in Geneva," Obama said in Tokyo at the start of a tour of Asia. "Instead we continue to see malicious, armed men taking over buildings, harassing folks who are disagreeing with them, destabilising the region and we haven't seen Russia step out and discouraging it."
If Russia did not play its part, he said, there would be "consequences and we will ramp up further sanctions".If Russia did not play its part, he said, there would be "consequences and we will ramp up further sanctions".
His comments came as the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, sounded a more conciliatory note and said Moscow expected the Geneva accords to "be implemented in practical actions in the near future".His comments came as the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, sounded a more conciliatory note and said Moscow expected the Geneva accords to "be implemented in practical actions in the near future".
On Wednesday Lavrov accused the US of "running the show" in Ukraine after a visit to Kiev by Joe Biden, the US vice-president, and said Russia would respond if attacked. Obama said new sanctions would come into force in a matter of days, not weeks, if the agreement was not implemented but acknowledged that the US needed to secure the support of allies to ensure additional economic pressure was evenly applied. On Wednesday, Lavrov accused the US of "running the show" in Ukraine after a visit to Kiev by Joe Biden, the US vice-president, and said Russia would respond if attacked. Obama said new sanctions would come into force in a matter of days, not weeks, if the agreement was not implemented but acknowledged that the US needed to secure the support of allies to ensure additional economic pressure was evenly applied.
He conceded that new sanctions may not change the calculations of his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. "There are some things the United States can do alone but ultimately it's going to have to be a joint effort, a collective effort," Obama said during a press conference with the Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe.He conceded that new sanctions may not change the calculations of his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. "There are some things the United States can do alone but ultimately it's going to have to be a joint effort, a collective effort," Obama said during a press conference with the Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe.
The pending penalties on Russia are expected to target wealthy individuals in Putin's inner circle, as well as the entities they oversee. Although US has also threatened to levy potentially crippling sanctions on key Russian industries including its energy sector, officials say they plan to employ those tougher penalties only if Russia moves military forces into Ukraine. The pending penalties on Russia are expected to target wealthy individuals in Putin's inner circle, as well as the entities they oversee. Although the US has also threatened to levy potentially crippling sanctions on key Russian industries including its energy sector, officials say they plan to employ those tougher penalties only if Russia moves military forces into Ukraine.
The US and Europe have already issued asset freezes and visa bans targeting Russian and Ukrainian officials in response to the Kremlin's annexation of Crimea. Obama's comments underline the difficulties he faces in devising a united western response to Russia, with Europe dependent on Russian gas supplies.The US and Europe have already issued asset freezes and visa bans targeting Russian and Ukrainian officials in response to the Kremlin's annexation of Crimea. Obama's comments underline the difficulties he faces in devising a united western response to Russia, with Europe dependent on Russian gas supplies.
While Washington and Kiev have put the onus on pro-Kremlin militants holding buildings in the east, Moscow said the responsibility fell on pro-western nationalists camping out in Kiev.While Washington and Kiev have put the onus on pro-Kremlin militants holding buildings in the east, Moscow said the responsibility fell on pro-western nationalists camping out in Kiev.
Russia has an estimated 40,000 Russian troops on Ukraine's eastern border, prompting Washington to start deploying 600 US troops to boost Nato's defences in eastern European states bordering Ukraine. The first unit of 150 US soldiers arrived in Poland on Wednesday, with the remainder due to land in Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia in the coming days.Russia has an estimated 40,000 Russian troops on Ukraine's eastern border, prompting Washington to start deploying 600 US troops to boost Nato's defences in eastern European states bordering Ukraine. The first unit of 150 US soldiers arrived in Poland on Wednesday, with the remainder due to land in Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia in the coming days.
Since the Geneva deal, pro-Russia militants have seized state buildings in nearly a dozen towns across Ukraine's south-east. The detention by the rebels of two journalists - an American working for Vice News, Simon Ostrovsky, and a Ukrainian activist, Irma Krat – in Slavyansk has done nothing to ease the mounting tensions. Since the Geneva deal, pro-Russia militants have seized state buildings in nearly a dozen towns across Ukraine's south-east. The detention by the rebels of two journalists – an American working for Vice News, Simon Ostrovsky, and a Ukrainian activist, Irma Krat – in Slavyansk has done nothing to ease the mounting tensions.
The rebel leader in the town, Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, called Ostrovsky a "journalist provocateur" and promised: "We will free him in due course." The US state department said it was "deeply concerned about the reports of a kidnapping" of Ostrovsky and called for Russia to organise his immediate release.The rebel leader in the town, Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, called Ostrovsky a "journalist provocateur" and promised: "We will free him in due course." The US state department said it was "deeply concerned about the reports of a kidnapping" of Ostrovsky and called for Russia to organise his immediate release.
Slavyansk was the source of gunfire that damaged a Ukrainian military reconnaissance plane on Tuesday, and where two bodies were found "brutally tortured", according to Ukraine's acting president, Oleksandr Turchynov.Slavyansk was the source of gunfire that damaged a Ukrainian military reconnaissance plane on Tuesday, and where two bodies were found "brutally tortured", according to Ukraine's acting president, Oleksandr Turchynov.
One of the two victims, Vladimir Rybak, was a local councillor and member of Turchynov's party. Following the killings, the acting president said Kiev would relaunch military operations against the insurgents.One of the two victims, Vladimir Rybak, was a local councillor and member of Turchynov's party. Following the killings, the acting president said Kiev would relaunch military operations against the insurgents.
Ukraine is going through its biggest political crisis since the fall of Soviet Union, sparked by months-long anti-government protests and President Viktor Yanukovych's flight to Russia.Ukraine is going through its biggest political crisis since the fall of Soviet Union, sparked by months-long anti-government protests and President Viktor Yanukovych's flight to Russia.
Yanukovych's exit sparked wide anger in his support base in Ukraine's east. The insurgents, who claim that Ukraine's post-Yanukovych government consists of nationalists who will suppress the east's large Russian-speaking population, are demanding regional autonomy or even annexation by Russia. Yanukovych's exit prompted wide anger in his support base in Ukraine's east. The insurgents, who claim that Ukraine's post-Yanukovych government consists of nationalists who will suppress the east's large Russian-speaking population, are demanding regional autonomy or even annexation by Russia.