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Saturday, March 1, 2014

Obama to Russia: 'There Will Be Costs' for Ukraine Intervention


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Obama to Russia: 'There Will Be Costs' for Ukraine Intervention
President Barack Obama said Thursday that “there will be costs to any military intervention in Ukraine,” after Russian military forces reportedly entered that country’s Crimea region.

“Any violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity would be deeply destabilizing,” Obama said at the White House, saying the United States is “deeply concerned” about the reports of the Russian presence there.

“The Ukrainian people deserve the opportunity to determine their own future,” he said, adding that interference would be "a clear violation of Russia's commitment to respect the independence and sovereignty and borders of Ukraine and international laws."


Obama Addresses Ukrainian Crisis NBC NEWS



U.S. officials confirm to NBC News that uniformed Russian forces are still entering Simferopol in Ukraine’s Crimea region. While not able to confirm the numbers used by Ukraine officials -- 2,000 or more -- the officials say they have no reason to doubt the basic information that there are Russians arriving on Russian aircraft.

Ukraine's U.N. Ambassador, Yuriy Sergeyev, told reporters Friday that "we are strong enough to defend ourselves."

The Obama administration has repeatedly warned Russia not to inflame tensions in Ukraine by intervening in the volatile country.


Russian Fleets Enter Crimea for ‘Security’ NBC NEWS



Obama’s remarks come after deposed Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych pledged to “keep fighting” the new leaders of the country. Yanukovych, who has resurfaced in Russia, blamed the West for “irresponsible policies” and “pandering to” to protesters who occupied Kiev.

House Speaker John Boehner said in a statement, "Both the administration and the European Union have a responsibility to work together to maximize the economic and political pressure on Russia to withdraw its troops."

Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor said in a statement that there should be "sanctions against Russian individuals and entities who use force or interfere in Ukraine's domestic affairs."

NBC's Bob Windrem contributed to this report.

First published February 28th 2014, 3:11 pm

UKRAINE CRISIS
2 hours
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Ukrainian MP Chased Through Crimean City's Streets
BY ED FLANAGAN
SIMFEROPOL, Ukraine – A Ukrainian member of parliament arrived in this Crimean city Friday evening only to be jeered and chased through the streets by angry pro-Russian demonstrators.

As the most high profile representative of the Maidan movement to come to the Crimea peninsula since the conflict began, Petro Poroshenko attempted to enter the Crimean parliament to start a dialogue with officials.

Almost immediately he was met with jeers, whistling and catcalls from the hundreds of pro-Russian demonstrators who have been regularly meeting outside the Parliament since masked gunmen took over the building earlier this week.

Blocked from entering parliament, police instead attempted to whisk Poroshenko away from the crowd. But the crowd surged and soon the independent MP was forced to hightail it out of the square into the streets of Simferopol, with the outraged protesters trailing behind him.

NBC News attempted to ask Poroshenko about his decision to travel to the Crimea, but he only muttered back, “Not now, not now.”

ALEXEY FURMAN / NBC NEWS
A crowd of angry pro-Russian demonstrators, as well as police and media, accompany Ukrainian MP Petro Poroshenko as he walks through the streets of the Crimean city of Simferopol.
Chants of “Crimea! Crimea! Get out of Crimea!” and “Russia! Russia! Russia!” chased Poroshenko for eight city blocks before police managed to push him into a waiting taxi, which sped off through a hole in the crowd formed by police.

Besides being a current member of a parliamentary committee charged with researching European Union integration, Poroshenko has also been a mainstay in Kiev’s Maidan movement, regularly seen supporting demonstrators there while also making speeches in favor of closer ties to the EU.

Poroshenko also owns Channel Five, one of the television stations here most closely associated with Maidan, as well as one of the largest companies in Ukraine, Roshen Chocolates, lending him the nickname, “The Chocolate King.”

First published February 28th 2014, 2:08 pm
ED FLANAGAN
Ed Flanagan is a Beijing-based producer for NBC News. He has been part of the NBC News team in China since 2005 and has covered the region -- from North Korea to Japan as well.

 Image: A wanted poster depicting Ukraine's ousted president Viktor YanukovychLOUISA GOULIAMAKI / AFP - GETTY IMAGES5 hours
UKRAINE CRISIS
Yanukovych 'Is Finished': Experts Dismiss Ruler's Comeback Bid
BY ALASTAIR JAMIESON
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Deposed President Viktor Yanukovych broke his cover Friday, pledging to “keep fighting” Ukraine's new rulers– but analysts dismissed his comeback prospects as “highly unlikely.”

“It does not really matter what Yanukovych says now, he is finished,” said John Lough, Associate Fellow at the Russia and Eurasia Program at Chatham House. “He can’t return to the country because he is wanted man. There is no way back for him in Ukraine.”

The exiled leader spoke to reporters in Russia – his first public appearance since fleeing Kiev a week ago in the aftermath of deadly clashes that plunged the region into a diplomatic crisis.

“Nobody ousted me,” he insisted to reporters in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, saying that Kiev’s interim rulers "represent the absolute minority of the population of Ukraine."

But the weakness of his case was underlined when he admitted he had not even had a face-to-face meeting with his only likely backer, Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“It does not really matter what Yanukovych says now, he is finished."

The Russian government, which has mostly let its military activity in Crimea do the talking, officially backs Yanukovych’s position– but experts said the chances of Putin backing the ex-leader’s claims with military support were very slim.

“Absolutely NO role for Yanukovych either in Crimea or Ukraine,” Carnegie Moscow Center’s Director, Dmitri Trenin, wrote on Twitter, adding that Friday’s press conference was “an exercise in cowardice and duplicity.”


Yanukovych is “a pawn in Russia’s game,” said Lough. “It doesn’t mean anything that Russia is allowing him to speak out. It is of no material concern what Yanukovych says now, although obviously it is of interest.

“Russia’s basic position that is that Yanukovych has been unfairly removed by neo-fascist forces and remains the legitimate leader of Ukraine. Its real position is still unclear, but Russia has an interest in slowing down the emergence of a new order in Ukraine and the uncertainty over Yanukovych serves that purpose.”

Another nail in his coffin could come from the International Monetary Fund, whose practice is to support transitional governments as long as there is a general international consensus.

“Realistically, Yanukovych’s comeback appears highly unlikely,” said Lilit Gevorgyan, analyst at IHS Global Insight. Although she added that a period of economic austerity tied to an IMF bailout “could make Yanukovych - or a re-orientation to Russia - more appealing for many Ukrainian voters in the coming months.”

“There is no real love for him in Moscow...The word on the street there is that Putin had no time for him."

This leaves Yanukovych's personal and political future very uncertain.

Yanukovych is staying at private premises in Rostov-on-Don, instead of a government residence for top officials, according to Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

A Russian lawyer told the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper that if Yanukovych were formally accused of murder, Russia should extradite him, the Washington Post reported.

“Based on the norms of international law and signed mutual treaties,” Alexander Treshev said, “Russia would have to do it.”

Despite refocusing Ukraine away from Europe and towards Russia, Yanukovych has lukewarm backing from the Kremlin.


“There is no real love for him in Moscow,” said Lough. “From Russia’s point of view he hadn’t been an effective leader and their relationship was troubled. The word on the street there is that Putin had no time for him."

Lough added: “He has blood on his hands. He was forcibly ejected from the country and there is now a broad consensus there now that he was a very poor president.”

First published February 28th 2014, 11:04 am
ALASTAIR JAMIESON

Alastair Jamieson is a London-based reporter, editor and homepage producer for NBC News. He joined NBCNews.com... Expand Bio


Obama to Russia: 'There Will Be Costs' for Ukraine Intervention
President Barack Obama said Thursday that “there will be costs to any military intervention in Ukraine,” after Russian military forces reportedly entered that country’s Crimea region.

“Any violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity would be deeply destabilizing,” Obama said at the White House, saying the United States is “deeply concerned” about the reports of the Russian presence there.

“The Ukrainian people deserve the opportunity to determine their own future,” he said, adding that interference would be "a clear violation of Russia's commitment to respect the independence and sovereignty and borders of Ukraine and international laws."


Obama Addresses Ukrainian Crisis NBC NEWS



U.S. officials confirm to NBC News that uniformed Russian forces are still entering Simferopol in Ukraine’s Crimea region. While not able to confirm the numbers used by Ukraine officials -- 2,000 or more -- the officials say they have no reason to doubt the basic information that there are Russians arriving on Russian aircraft.

Ukraine's U.N. Ambassador, Yuriy Sergeyev, told reporters Friday that "we are strong enough to defend ourselves."

The Obama administration has repeatedly warned Russia not to inflame tensions in Ukraine by intervening in the volatile country.


Russian Fleets Enter Crimea for ‘Security’ NBC NEWS



Obama’s remarks come after deposed Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych pledged to “keep fighting” the new leaders of the country. Yanukovych, who has resurfaced in Russia, blamed the West for “irresponsible policies” and “pandering to” to protesters who occupied Kiev.

House Speaker John Boehner said in a statement, "Both the administration and the European Union have a responsibility to work together to maximize the economic and political pressure on Russia to withdraw its troops."

Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor said in a statement that there should be "sanctions against Russian individuals and entities who use force or interfere in Ukraine's domestic affairs."

NBC's Bob Windrem contributed to this report.

First published February 28th 2014, 3:11 pm

UKRAINE CRISIS
2 hours
advertisement

advertisement

advertisement

Ukrainian MP Chased Through Crimean City's Streets
BY ED FLANAGAN
SIMFEROPOL, Ukraine – A Ukrainian member of parliament arrived in this Crimean city Friday evening only to be jeered and chased through the streets by angry pro-Russian demonstrators.

As the most high profile representative of the Maidan movement to come to the Crimea peninsula since the conflict began, Petro Poroshenko attempted to enter the Crimean parliament to start a dialogue with officials.

Almost immediately he was met with jeers, whistling and catcalls from the hundreds of pro-Russian demonstrators who have been regularly meeting outside the Parliament since masked gunmen took over the building earlier this week.

Blocked from entering parliament, police instead attempted to whisk Poroshenko away from the crowd. But the crowd surged and soon the independent MP was forced to hightail it out of the square into the streets of Simferopol, with the outraged protesters trailing behind him.

NBC News attempted to ask Poroshenko about his decision to travel to the Crimea, but he only muttered back, “Not now, not now.”

ALEXEY FURMAN / NBC NEWS
A crowd of angry pro-Russian demonstrators, as well as police and media, accompany Ukrainian MP Petro Poroshenko as he walks through the streets of the Crimean city of Simferopol.
Chants of “Crimea! Crimea! Get out of Crimea!” and “Russia! Russia! Russia!” chased Poroshenko for eight city blocks before police managed to push him into a waiting taxi, which sped off through a hole in the crowd formed by police.

Besides being a current member of a parliamentary committee charged with researching European Union integration, Poroshenko has also been a mainstay in Kiev’s Maidan movement, regularly seen supporting demonstrators there while also making speeches in favor of closer ties to the EU.

Poroshenko also owns Channel Five, one of the television stations here most closely associated with Maidan, as well as one of the largest companies in Ukraine, Roshen Chocolates, lending him the nickname, “The Chocolate King.”

First published February 28th 2014, 2:08 pm
ED FLANAGAN
Ed Flanagan is a Beijing-based producer for NBC News. He has been part of the NBC News team in China since 2005 and has covered the region -- from North Korea to Japan as well.

 Image: A wanted poster depicting Ukraine's ousted president Viktor YanukovychLOUISA GOULIAMAKI / AFP - GETTY IMAGES5 hours
UKRAINE CRISIS
Yanukovych 'Is Finished': Experts Dismiss Ruler's Comeback Bid
BY ALASTAIR JAMIESON
advertisement

advertisement

advertisement

advertisement

Deposed President Viktor Yanukovych broke his cover Friday, pledging to “keep fighting” Ukraine's new rulers– but analysts dismissed his comeback prospects as “highly unlikely.”

“It does not really matter what Yanukovych says now, he is finished,” said John Lough, Associate Fellow at the Russia and Eurasia Program at Chatham House. “He can’t return to the country because he is wanted man. There is no way back for him in Ukraine.”

The exiled leader spoke to reporters in Russia – his first public appearance since fleeing Kiev a week ago in the aftermath of deadly clashes that plunged the region into a diplomatic crisis.

“Nobody ousted me,” he insisted to reporters in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, saying that Kiev’s interim rulers "represent the absolute minority of the population of Ukraine."

But the weakness of his case was underlined when he admitted he had not even had a face-to-face meeting with his only likely backer, Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“It does not really matter what Yanukovych says now, he is finished."

The Russian government, which has mostly let its military activity in Crimea do the talking, officially backs Yanukovych’s position– but experts said the chances of Putin backing the ex-leader’s claims with military support were very slim.

“Absolutely NO role for Yanukovych either in Crimea or Ukraine,” Carnegie Moscow Center’s Director, Dmitri Trenin, wrote on Twitter, adding that Friday’s press conference was “an exercise in cowardice and duplicity.”


Yanukovych is “a pawn in Russia’s game,” said Lough. “It doesn’t mean anything that Russia is allowing him to speak out. It is of no material concern what Yanukovych says now, although obviously it is of interest.

“Russia’s basic position that is that Yanukovych has been unfairly removed by neo-fascist forces and remains the legitimate leader of Ukraine. Its real position is still unclear, but Russia has an interest in slowing down the emergence of a new order in Ukraine and the uncertainty over Yanukovych serves that purpose.”

Another nail in his coffin could come from the International Monetary Fund, whose practice is to support transitional governments as long as there is a general international consensus.

“Realistically, Yanukovych’s comeback appears highly unlikely,” said Lilit Gevorgyan, analyst at IHS Global Insight. Although she added that a period of economic austerity tied to an IMF bailout “could make Yanukovych - or a re-orientation to Russia - more appealing for many Ukrainian voters in the coming months.”

“There is no real love for him in Moscow...The word on the street there is that Putin had no time for him."

This leaves Yanukovych's personal and political future very uncertain.

Yanukovych is staying at private premises in Rostov-on-Don, instead of a government residence for top officials, according to Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

A Russian lawyer told the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper that if Yanukovych were formally accused of murder, Russia should extradite him, the Washington Post reported.

“Based on the norms of international law and signed mutual treaties,” Alexander Treshev said, “Russia would have to do it.”

Despite refocusing Ukraine away from Europe and towards Russia, Yanukovych has lukewarm backing from the Kremlin.


“There is no real love for him in Moscow,” said Lough. “From Russia’s point of view he hadn’t been an effective leader and their relationship was troubled. The word on the street there is that Putin had no time for him."

Lough added: “He has blood on his hands. He was forcibly ejected from the country and there is now a broad consensus there now that he was a very poor president.”

First published February 28th 2014, 11:04 am
ALASTAIR JAMIESON

Alastair Jamieson is a London-based reporter, editor and homepage producer for NBC News. He joined NBCNews.com... Expand Bio

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