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Russia Deplores West’s Threat of Ukraine Sanctions Russia Denounces West’s Sanction Threats to Ukraine
(35 minutes later)
MOSCOW — Russia on Thursday denounced moves by the United States and Europe to impose sanctions on Ukrainian officials following the eruption of violence in the capital, Kiev, and other cities, saying they amounted to blackmail against the government of President Viktor F. Yanukovych. MOSCOW — Russia on Thursday denounced moves by the United States and Europe to impose sanctions on Ukrainian officials after the eruption of violence in the capital, Kiev, and other cities, saying they amounted to blackmail against the government of President Viktor F. Yanukovych.
Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, also criticized a visit by the foreign ministers of France, Germany and Poland, saying the European Union had dispatched its “latest uninvited mission” to Ukraine’s capital, Kiev, to impose a solution by forcing Mr. Yanukovych to compromise. Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, also criticized a visit by the foreign ministers of France, Germany and Poland, saying the European Union had sent its “latest uninvited mission” to Ukraine’s capital, Kiev, to impose a solution by forcing Mr. Yanukovych to compromise.
“How can you expect that your services will be in demand when the parallel threat of sanctions makes everything very similar to blackmail?” Mr. Lavrov said in remarks during a visit to Iraq, according to Interfax. “How can you expect that your services will be in demand when the parallel threat of sanctions makes everything very similar to blackmail?” Mr. Lavrov said in remarks during a visit to Iraq, according to the Interfax news agency.
While Russia has long criticized American and European diplomacy in Ukraine, the tone of Russia’s complaints has escalated along with the violence there, which officials in Moscow have consistently blamed on radicals and extremists that it has compared to the Nazis. The death toll from three days of violence climbed to about 50 on Thursday, including both protesters and members of the security services. Hundreds more have been wounded, and there were indications that the country was splintering. While Russia has long criticized American and European diplomacy in Ukraine, the tone of Russia’s complaints has escalated along with the violence there, for which officials in Moscow have consistently blamed radicals and extremists whom they have compared to the Nazis. The death toll from three days of violence climbed to about 50 on Thursday, including protesters and members of the security services. Hundreds more have been wounded, and there were indications that the country was splintering.
Mr. Lavrov’s remarks came the day after the United States announced that it would impose a travel ban on 20 civilian and political leaders in Ukraine who officials said were directly responsible for ordering a crackdown in Kiev that began on Tuesday after protesters broke through police lines.Mr. Lavrov’s remarks came the day after the United States announced that it would impose a travel ban on 20 civilian and political leaders in Ukraine who officials said were directly responsible for ordering a crackdown in Kiev that began on Tuesday after protesters broke through police lines.
The State Department did not identify those sanctioned, but officials indicated that they had not targeted Ukraine’s military command or apparently Mr. Yanukovych himself, leaving room for a compromise.The State Department did not identify those sanctioned, but officials indicated that they had not targeted Ukraine’s military command or apparently Mr. Yanukovych himself, leaving room for a compromise.
One of Russia’s deputy prime ministers, Dmitri O. Rogozin, a former ambassador to NATO whose views of the West are often pointed, also planned to fly to Ukraine on Thursday, but he canceled, citing the situation on the ground in Kiev. Hours later, after speaking by telephone with Mr. Yanukovych, President Vladimir V. Putin ordered another official to go: Vladimir Lukin, the outgoing chairman of Russia’s human rights commission, who is widely viewed as a more moderate figure. One of Russia’s deputy prime ministers, Dmitri O. Rogozin, a former ambassador to NATO whose views of the West are often pointed, also planned to fly to Ukraine on Thursday, but he canceled, citing the situation on the ground in Kiev. Hours later, after speaking by telephone with Mr. Yanukovych, President Vladimir V. Putin ordered another official to go: Vladimir Lukin, the departing chairman of Russia’s human rights commission, who is widely viewed as a more moderate figure.
In Brussels, diplomats were working on drafts of an agreement that would impose similar sanctions and possibly introduce an embargo on the export of arms to the country.In Brussels, diplomats were working on drafts of an agreement that would impose similar sanctions and possibly introduce an embargo on the export of arms to the country.
“It is important that there is a strong international response,” William Hague, Britain’s foreign secretary, said as he arrived in Brussels for a meeting of his European Union counterparts. “It is also important that we promote ultimately a peaceful settlement on these issues and retain our capability to do so.”“It is important that there is a strong international response,” William Hague, Britain’s foreign secretary, said as he arrived in Brussels for a meeting of his European Union counterparts. “It is also important that we promote ultimately a peaceful settlement on these issues and retain our capability to do so.”
Belgium’s Foreign Minister, Didier Reynders, said that the European Union’s 28 member states must do everything to promote dialogue. “There are several types of sanction possible,” he added, listing bans on travel to the European Union and the freezing of assets. Belgium’s foreign minister, Didier Reynders, said that the European Union’s 28 member states must do everything to promote dialogue. “There are several types of sanction possible,” he added, listing bans on travel to countries in the union and the freezing of assets.
José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, the union’s executive body, told reporters that “the immediate and urgent priority is to avoid further bloodshed and to save human life.” Mr. Barroso added that “there is now a broad consensus among our member states on the way to deal with this issue.”José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, the union’s executive body, told reporters that “the immediate and urgent priority is to avoid further bloodshed and to save human life.” Mr. Barroso added that “there is now a broad consensus among our member states on the way to deal with this issue.”
Even as the European diplomats were meeting with Mr. Yanukovych in Kiev, Russia’s prime minister, Dmitri A. Medvedev, told his cabinet that the Ukrainian government should restore order and not bow to pressure from the outside. His remarks suggested that Russia could be losing patience with Mr. Yanukovych.Even as the European diplomats were meeting with Mr. Yanukovych in Kiev, Russia’s prime minister, Dmitri A. Medvedev, told his cabinet that the Ukrainian government should restore order and not bow to pressure from the outside. His remarks suggested that Russia could be losing patience with Mr. Yanukovych.
“We will seek to do everything to fulfill the pledges which we gave to them,” Mr. Medvedev said in remarks transcribed by his office, referring to Russia’s pledges to provide $15 billion in loans to shore up Ukraine’s finances, “but at the same time it’s necessary that the partners are themselves in shape and that the authorities that are working in Ukraine are legitimate and effective, so that people don’t wipe their feet on them like a doormat.”“We will seek to do everything to fulfill the pledges which we gave to them,” Mr. Medvedev said in remarks transcribed by his office, referring to Russia’s pledges to provide $15 billion in loans to shore up Ukraine’s finances, “but at the same time it’s necessary that the partners are themselves in shape and that the authorities that are working in Ukraine are legitimate and effective, so that people don’t wipe their feet on them like a doormat.”