Russia under fire
Amid Russia’s denial that its actions in Ukraine is not a declaration of war, the United States of America today said Russia’s actions is in violation of the sovereignty of Ukraine and a violation of its international obligations.
In an interview with Bob Schieffer of CBS’s Face The Nation , US Secretary of State Russia’s actions are really a stunning, willful choice by President Putin to invade another country.
“Russia is in violation of its obligations under the UN Charter, under the Helsinki Final Act.” – Secretary Kerry
Secretary Kerry highlighted that in the 21st century it is a serious crime to invade another country on completely trumped up pretext.
President Obama to Putin: Roll back this invasion and undo this act of aggression
According to Secretary Kerry, US President Barack Obama had a phone conversation with President Putin.
Secretary Kerry said that President Obama was very strong and made absolutely clear that Russia’s action was unacceptable and that there will be serious repercussions if this stands.
The President asked Mr. Putin it was imperative to find a different path to roll back this invasion and undo this act of aggression.
Secretary Kerry: “It is not Russia versus United States, Russia v. Europe.”
During the interview, Secretary Kerry said the US hopes Russia will turn its action around.
He underlined that it is not Russia versus United States, Russia v. Europe.
“This is about the people of Ukraine.” – Secretary Kerry
He pointed out that the people of Ukraine are the people who initiated what is happening there.
In addition, Ukraines’s President Yanukovych, supported by Russia, lost all support, all legitimacy.
President Yanukovych fled in the night and his own supporters deserted him.
What are at stakes with Russia’s aggression in Ukraine
Secretary Kerry underlined that Russia needs to think very carefully about the choice that it’s making. A
He states there are visa bans, there are asset freezes, there is isolation with respect to trade and investment.
In addtion, American businesses may well want to start thinking twice about whether they want to do business with a country that behaves like this.
Secretary Kerry understored that every one of US allies and friends are determined to stay united and to make clear there is a price attached to Russia’s kind of behavior.
About 6,000 Russian troops are on the ground in Crimea
Reports made headlines that Russia is giving Ukraine’s army and navy in Crimea an ultimatum, whether to pledge allegiance to the Ukraine’s new pro-Russia leadership or be forced by Russia to submit.
Ukrainian forces believed they faced a threat even though no shot had been fired when 6,000 Russian troops are on the ground Crimea.
Many are afraid that there might be a possibility day of a wider invasion by Russia which in turn aroused international attention these days.
Ukrainian people on protest!
In December 2012, Kiev is engulfed by unrest when massive protest by pro-EU protesters stood their ground after an overnight sweep by riot police.
The authorities sent in battalions of riot police with bulldozers to reclaim the Independence Square. There were records of scuffles and arrests. However, the riot police avoided entering the nearby City Hall and by morning they withdrew from the streets.
In a press statement in Washington DC, US Secretary of State John Kerry condemned the destruction of a protest camp in central Kiev.
The turmoil started in November 2013 when the President Yanukovich yielded pressure from Moscow and spurned a free trade deal with the EU.
