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Ukraine dismisses Russian threats to intervene, continues ‘anti-terrorist’ campaign Ukraine dismisses Russian threats to intervene, continues ‘anti-terrorist’ campaign
(about 3 hours later)
DONETSK, Ukraine — The Ukrainian government Friday brushed off Russian threats of intervention in a tense standoff in eastern Ukraine, declaring that Ukraine’s “anti-terrorist operation” against pro-Russian militiamen occupying government buildings would continue.DONETSK, Ukraine — The Ukrainian government Friday brushed off Russian threats of intervention in a tense standoff in eastern Ukraine, declaring that Ukraine’s “anti-terrorist operation” against pro-Russian militiamen occupying government buildings would continue.
Ukrainian troops clashed with pro-Russian militants at barricades and checkpoints Thursday in eastern Ukraine, with fighting centered around the breakaway city of Slovyansk, a separatist stronghold.Ukrainian troops clashed with pro-Russian militants at barricades and checkpoints Thursday in eastern Ukraine, with fighting centered around the breakaway city of Slovyansk, a separatist stronghold.
“We do not want any casualties. We will not storm the city. We realize that there may be a large number of injured people in this case,” said Vasyl Krutov, deputy chief of Ukraine’s Security Service, at a news briefing in Kiev on Friday.“We do not want any casualties. We will not storm the city. We realize that there may be a large number of injured people in this case,” said Vasyl Krutov, deputy chief of Ukraine’s Security Service, at a news briefing in Kiev on Friday.
Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said Friday that Ukraine’s military move -- called ATO, for Anti-Terrorist Operation — would continue. President Obama said during an Asian trip that “additional targeted sanctions” against Russia are “ready to go” following consultations with European allies. Obama spoke Friday morning with the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Britain, who agreed that Russia has not complied with promises it made in a de-escalation agreement last week in Geneva and has “in fact continued to escalate the situation,” the White House said.
A spokesman for British Prime Minister David Cameron said that the allies had “agreed that in the light of Russia’s refusal to support the [de-escalation] process, an extension of the current targeted sanctions would need to be implemented.”
In Kiev, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said Friday that Ukraine’s military move -- called ATO, for Anti-Terrorist Operation — would continue.
“There’s been no suspension of the ATO in the face of threats from an invasion by Russian armed forces,” Avakov said.“There’s been no suspension of the ATO in the face of threats from an invasion by Russian armed forces,” Avakov said.
The Ukrainian interior minister said, “The terrorists should be on their guard around the clock. Civilians have nothing to fear.”The Ukrainian interior minister said, “The terrorists should be on their guard around the clock. Civilians have nothing to fear.”
German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Russian President Vladi­mir Putin on Friday to discuss the tense situation in Ukraine, Merkel’s spokesman and the Kremlin said.German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Russian President Vladi­mir Putin on Friday to discuss the tense situation in Ukraine, Merkel’s spokesman and the Kremlin said.
The Russian leader appeared to give no ground in his insistance that the interim government in Kiev back down against pro-Russian separatists who have seized several cities in eastern Ukraine. The Russian leader appeared to give no ground in his insistence that the interim government in Kiev back down against pro-Russian separatists who have seized several cities in eastern Ukraine.
“Putin harshly condemned the attempts of the regime in Kiev to use armed forces against peaceful civilians in the southeast of the country,” the Kremlin said in a statement.“Putin harshly condemned the attempts of the regime in Kiev to use armed forces against peaceful civilians in the southeast of the country,” the Kremlin said in a statement.
But there were few signs of open conflict Friday in or around the contested eastern cities.But there were few signs of open conflict Friday in or around the contested eastern cities.
In Mariupol, a southeastern Ukrainian port city on the Sea of Azov, control of the local government was back in the hands of the separatist People’s Republic of Donetsk on Friday, a day after Kiev proclaimed the City Hall there liberated from pro-Russian militiamen. At some point after that declaration, the local mayor and police agreed to cede the city’s administrative headquarters once again to the separatists, who were busy Friday making molotov cocktails in the basement of City Hall.In Mariupol, a southeastern Ukrainian port city on the Sea of Azov, control of the local government was back in the hands of the separatist People’s Republic of Donetsk on Friday, a day after Kiev proclaimed the City Hall there liberated from pro-Russian militiamen. At some point after that declaration, the local mayor and police agreed to cede the city’s administrative headquarters once again to the separatists, who were busy Friday making molotov cocktails in the basement of City Hall.
It was not immediately clear why the local government caved, but the development appeared to illustrate the challenges that Kiev faces in trying to regain control in eastern Ukraine.It was not immediately clear why the local government caved, but the development appeared to illustrate the challenges that Kiev faces in trying to regain control in eastern Ukraine.
In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned Friday that the West wants to take control of Ukraine and is obsessed by its geopolitical ambitions.In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned Friday that the West wants to take control of Ukraine and is obsessed by its geopolitical ambitions.
“Without batting an eye, our Western partners keep demanding day after day that Russia stop interfering in Ukrainian affairs, pull out troops and remove certain agents who have reportedly been caught in the southeast and who are reportedly guiding these processes,” Lavrov said at a forum of young Russian diplomats.“Without batting an eye, our Western partners keep demanding day after day that Russia stop interfering in Ukrainian affairs, pull out troops and remove certain agents who have reportedly been caught in the southeast and who are reportedly guiding these processes,” Lavrov said at a forum of young Russian diplomats.
On Thursday night, Secretary of State John F. Kerry said that Russia “has refused to take a single step in the right direction.”On Thursday night, Secretary of State John F. Kerry said that Russia “has refused to take a single step in the right direction.”
Kerry said the U.S. government was preparing another round of economic sanctions aimed at constraining Russian ambitions in Ukraine.Kerry said the U.S. government was preparing another round of economic sanctions aimed at constraining Russian ambitions in Ukraine.
“I have told John Kerry many times — he raised the question about two weeks ago — that they should show Russian agents, if they have really been caught by the Ukrainian services, to people; they should show them on TV,” Lavrov said.“I have told John Kerry many times — he raised the question about two weeks ago — that they should show Russian agents, if they have really been caught by the Ukrainian services, to people; they should show them on TV,” Lavrov said.
He spoke a day after Russia began military drills on its border with Ukraine in response to Ukrainian military operations that killed “up to five” pro-Russian militants, according to Ukrainian officials. At a news conference in Seoul with South Korean President Park Geung-hye, Obama said new sanctions would be imposed “assuming we don’t see any drastic changes in behavior on the part of the Russians.” In addition to more “targeted” sanctions, Obama said the groundwork was being laid “so that if and when we see even greater escalation, perhaps even military incursion by Russia into Ukraine, that we’re prepared for the sort of sectoral sanctions that would have even larger consequences.”
Cautioning that “the targeted sanctions we’re applying now” would not necessarily solve the immediate problem in Ukraine, Obama said he is trying to “continually raise the costs for Russia of their actions while still leaving the possibility of them moving in a different direction. And we’ll continue to keep some arrows in our quiver in the event that we see a further deterioration of the situation over the next several days or weeks.”
Asset freezes and visa bans have already had an economic effect on Russia, Obama said, and further sanctions would pose problems for the country’s long-term economic interests.
“President Putin is not a stupid man,” he said, and “there’s going to come a point at which he’s got to make a fundamental decision” on whether he is ready to see his faltering economy further weaken because he’s “unwilling to deal with Ukraine in a diplomatic fashion.”
Obama defended his overall policy of trying to reset relations with Russia, noting that the strategy during his first term resulted in cooperation with Moscow on Afghanistan, Iran and other areas. But Putin, “in my second term, has had an increasing tendency to view the world through a Cold War prism and to see Russia’s interests as invariably in conflict with the West’s.”
Still, said Obama, “I absolutely would save Mr. Putin if he were drowning. I’d like to think that if anybody is out there drowning, I’m going to save them.” He recalled that he had grown up in Hawaii and “I used to be a pretty good swimmer.” The reference was to Putin’s comment last week that Obama, despite their differences, was “a decent and quite courageous person,” who would save him if he were drowning.
Obama spoke a day after Russia began military drills on its border with Ukraine in response to Ukrainian military operations that killed “up to five” pro-Russian militants, according to Ukrainian officials.
Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the Ukrainian actions, and his top deputies said a Ukrainian mobilization in the restive eastern part of the country would elicit a Russian response. The tit-for-tat military movements brought the two sides closer to a direct armed confrontation in a standoff that analysts call one of the most dangerous on European soil since the end of the Cold War.Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the Ukrainian actions, and his top deputies said a Ukrainian mobilization in the restive eastern part of the country would elicit a Russian response. The tit-for-tat military movements brought the two sides closer to a direct armed confrontation in a standoff that analysts call one of the most dangerous on European soil since the end of the Cold War.
“If the Kiev regime has started to use the army against the population inside the country, it beyond any doubt is a very serious crime,” Putin said at a media forum in St. Petersburg. He added that if Ukrainian authorities escalated the confrontation, there would be “consequences.”“If the Kiev regime has started to use the army against the population inside the country, it beyond any doubt is a very serious crime,” Putin said at a media forum in St. Petersburg. He added that if Ukrainian authorities escalated the confrontation, there would be “consequences.”
After a day of increasingly dire reports from the ground, the Obama administration struck back, at least verbally. “If Russia continues in this direction, it will not just be a grave mistake, it will be an expensive mistake,” Kerry said in Washington. Although he announced no new sanctions, Kerry said, “The window [for Russia] to change course is closing. . . . We are ready to act.”After a day of increasingly dire reports from the ground, the Obama administration struck back, at least verbally. “If Russia continues in this direction, it will not just be a grave mistake, it will be an expensive mistake,” Kerry said in Washington. Although he announced no new sanctions, Kerry said, “The window [for Russia] to change course is closing. . . . We are ready to act.”
The pro-Russian activists were killed in fighting at three checkpoints surrounding the city of Slovyansk, and one Ukrainian soldier was wounded, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry said in a statement. The violence broke out as security forces tried to dislodge protesters and pro-Russian militants encamped in cities across eastern Ukraine, with other fighting reported at an arms depot and a city hall.The pro-Russian activists were killed in fighting at three checkpoints surrounding the city of Slovyansk, and one Ukrainian soldier was wounded, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry said in a statement. The violence broke out as security forces tried to dislodge protesters and pro-Russian militants encamped in cities across eastern Ukraine, with other fighting reported at an arms depot and a city hall.
The Russian military began the “tactical drills” in response to events across the border in Ukraine, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at a meeting in Moscow.The Russian military began the “tactical drills” in response to events across the border in Ukraine, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at a meeting in Moscow.
If Ukraine’s “war machine” does not halt, Shoigu said, it will lead to a large number of casualties. “We have to react to such a development,” he said.If Ukraine’s “war machine” does not halt, Shoigu said, it will lead to a large number of casualties. “We have to react to such a development,” he said.
The Russian defense minister said the drills would include aerial exercises near the border.The Russian defense minister said the drills would include aerial exercises near the border.
The leading candidate in Ukraine’s upcoming presidential election, former foreign minister Petro Poroshenko, said three Russian military helicopters crossed the border and entered Ukrainian airspace. He said the incident was being investigated.The leading candidate in Ukraine’s upcoming presidential election, former foreign minister Petro Poroshenko, said three Russian military helicopters crossed the border and entered Ukrainian airspace. He said the incident was being investigated.
“Ukraine wants Russia to stop the constant threats and blackmail and to withdraw its troops from the border,” Ukraine’s acting president, Oleksandr Turchynov, said Thursday.“Ukraine wants Russia to stop the constant threats and blackmail and to withdraw its troops from the border,” Ukraine’s acting president, Oleksandr Turchynov, said Thursday.
A senior American official said the United States is aware of reports of helicopter incursions into Ukrainian airspace but could not confirm them. “That said, we are watching Russian troop movements on the border with great concern,” the official said. “Any further Russian military intervention into Ukraine would be a grave mistake.”A senior American official said the United States is aware of reports of helicopter incursions into Ukrainian airspace but could not confirm them. “That said, we are watching Russian troop movements on the border with great concern,” the official said. “Any further Russian military intervention into Ukraine would be a grave mistake.”
The U.S. Army is sending four companies of 150 paratroopers each to Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia this week to conduct training exercises.The U.S. Army is sending four companies of 150 paratroopers each to Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia this week to conduct training exercises.
Kerry held Russia fully responsible for the escalating violence. “This is a full-throated effort to actively sabotage the democratic process through gross external intimidation,” he said. U.S. intelligence has reported that “Russian intelligence and special operations” forces are “playing an active role” in eastern Ukraine, Kerry said, adding that “nobody should doubt Russia’s hand in it,” including the supply of personnel, weapons and money and the coordination of separatist actions.Kerry held Russia fully responsible for the escalating violence. “This is a full-throated effort to actively sabotage the democratic process through gross external intimidation,” he said. U.S. intelligence has reported that “Russian intelligence and special operations” forces are “playing an active role” in eastern Ukraine, Kerry said, adding that “nobody should doubt Russia’s hand in it,” including the supply of personnel, weapons and money and the coordination of separatist actions.
Kerry, fully supporting charges levied by the Kiev government, cited intercepted communications between known Russian agents and separatists in Ukraine and extensive social media photographs of Russian special operations forces on the ground.Kerry, fully supporting charges levied by the Kiev government, cited intercepted communications between known Russian agents and separatists in Ukraine and extensive social media photographs of Russian special operations forces on the ground.
Noting that it has been a full week since Russia agreed in a Geneva accord with the United States, Ukraine and the European Union to help avoid further escalation, Kerry said the agreement “is not open to interpretation. It is not vague. It is not subjective. It is not optional.”Noting that it has been a full week since Russia agreed in a Geneva accord with the United States, Ukraine and the European Union to help avoid further escalation, Kerry said the agreement “is not open to interpretation. It is not vague. It is not subjective. It is not optional.”
While the Ukrainian government has kept its commitments to begin a process of constitutional reform and respect minorities’ rights, “Russia has put its faith in distraction, deception and destabilization . . . [and] refused to take a single concrete step in the right direction,” he said.While the Ukrainian government has kept its commitments to begin a process of constitutional reform and respect minorities’ rights, “Russia has put its faith in distraction, deception and destabilization . . . [and] refused to take a single concrete step in the right direction,” he said.
President Obama said Wednesday that a new round of sanctions against prominent Russians has been drawn up, and Kerry said previous measures have damaged Russia’s first-quarter economy, with growth estimates revised downward by 2 to 3 percentage points and $70 billion in capital fleeing the Russian financial system.
In a news conference in Tokyo on the first stop of his Asia trip, Obama said that the United States has “teed up” additional sanctions against Russia but that Putin can still change course and encourage pro-Russian militants in eastern Ukraine to disarm.
“There’s always the possibility that tomorrow or the next day Russia takes another course,” Obama said. “Do I think they’re going to do that? So far the evidence doesn’t make me hopeful.”
‘1st step’ of anti-terror drive
In eastern Ukraine, the first signs emerged that the state was reestablishing its authority. Outside the regional capital, Donetsk, checkpoints that on Wednesday were occupied by anti-Kiev militias were being manned Thursday afternoon by members of the Ukrainian national police.
Police officers, wearing crisply pressed uniforms and carrying automatic rifles, stopped vehicles and inspected identification cards. They knocked down tents and tire barricades erected by pro-Russian militias on the highways.
There was also at least one new military checkpoint that was occupied by tanks and members of a Ukrainian airborne unit on a road outside Slovyansk. The tank gunner, who identified himself only by his first name, Vyacheslav, said the unit’s mission was to open car trunks and look for weapons.
Several journalists have been detained in Slovyansk, which international observers have said is effectively controlled by armed pro-Russian activists. American Simon Ostrovsky, a reporter for Vice News who had been held for more than 48 hours, was released late Thursday, according to Vice News.
Miroslav Rudenko, a leader of the Donetsk region’s pro-Russian “self-defense militia,” told the Moscow-based Interfax news agency that his men were attacked by Ukrainian military personnel at roadblocks near Slovyansk’s entrances. Rudenko said that at least one person died and one was injured.
“At the moment, it is very difficult to reach our militia members on their cellphones,” Rudenko told Interfax. “A ‘combat situation’ has emerged in the city.”
In Kiev, the Foreign Ministry said Ukrainian troops struck three checkpoints, killing five militiamen. During or after the fighting, the tires used to create barricades were ignited, sending black smoke into the sky.
Yuriy Lutsenko, an adviser to Ukraine’s interim president, said: “Today was the first step of the anti-terror operation. Finally, we established control on the main highway between Kharkiv and Rostov, and then we pushed the terrorists into Slovyansk.”
In Artemovsk, a town about 50 miles north of Donetsk, 70 unidentified men carrying automatic weapons and grenades attacked an arms depot, according to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry. The ministry said that Ukrainian security forces repelled the attack and that one Ukrainian soldier was wounded.
Residents blamed the attack on anti-Kiev activists seeking access to the depot.
Criminal elements blamed
Serhiy Taruta, the interim governor of the Donetsk region and one of the richest men in Ukraine, said in an interview that the militant pro-Russian separatists in cities such as Slovyansk represent only a small percentage of the local population.
“There is a local problem, and lots of criminal or half-criminal elements are engaged in looting, plundering and, unfortunately, killing,” he said. “The police have not been able to work effectively against these forces.”
Taruta said he and his team have been actively negotiating with the pro-Russian activists and anti-Kiev protesters who have taken over or surrounded public buildings across the region.
Pro-Russian protesters and masked gunmen have been occupying government buildings across eastern Ukraine for nearly two weeks and refusing to recognize the fledging Kiev government.
The violence threatens the legitimacy of Ukrainian presidential and mayoral elections scheduled for May 25, Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said Thursday. His comments raised the possibility that Russia may continue refusing to recognize the Ukrainian government even after elections are held.
Russia warned Wednesday that it was prepared to retaliate against any attack on its citizens or interests in Ukraine.
Birnbaum reported from Moscow. Griff Witte in Mariupol, Alex Ryabchyn in Donetsk, Will Englund in Moscow, Juliet Eilperin in Tokyo and Karen DeYoung in Washington contributed to this report.Birnbaum reported from Moscow. Griff Witte in Mariupol, Alex Ryabchyn in Donetsk, Will Englund in Moscow, Juliet Eilperin in Tokyo and Karen DeYoung in Washington contributed to this report.