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Ukraine Puts Troops on High Alert, Threatening War Tug of War Over Ukraine Intensifies
(about 4 hours later)
SIMFEROPOL, Ukraine — Ukraine put its military on high alert Sunday in response to Russia’s move to seize control of the Crimean Peninsula, and it threatened war against Moscow if the Kremlin made further incursions into Ukrainian territory as Western powers scrambled to find a response to the crisis. KIEV, Ukraine — As Russian security forces consolidated their hold on Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula on Sunday, the Ukrainian government called up its reserves and appealed for international help, while American and European leaders warned of potential political and economic penalties for Moscow.
“This is the red alert, this is not a threat, this is actually a declaration of war to my country,” Ukraine’s prime minister, Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk, told reporters in English, a day after Russia’s parliament approved the deployment of troops to any part of Ukraine where Moscow deems Russians are in danger. He warned that Ukraine was on the “brink of disaster” and appealed to the international community to stand by Kiev. Sunday was a day of messages and mopping up, with Ukrainian and Western leaders trying to dissuade President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia from overplaying his hand and ordering an invasion of eastern Ukraine, even as Russian forces and their sympathizers in Crimea worked to disarm or neutralize any Ukrainian resistance there.
As Ukrainians gathered in central Kiev for a large patriotic rally, Russian troops without badges and pro-Russian “self-defense” forces surrounded some Ukrainian military bases in Crimea, urging the soldiers and sailors to defect to the new authorities not recognized by Kiev. There was tension and discussion, but no violence from either side. “This is the red alert — this is not a threat, this is actually a declaration of war to my country,” Ukraine’s prime minister, Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk, told reporters in English, a day after Russia’s Parliament approved the deployment of troops to any part of Ukraine where Moscow deems Russians to be in danger. He warned that Ukraine was on the “brink of disaster” and asked the international community to stand by his government in Kiev.
The new government in Kiev, hastily installed last week, wants to influence the thinking of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, an effort expected to continue later on Sunday when NATO holds an emergency meeting on Ukraine and British Foreign Secretary William Hague visits Kiev in a sign of Western support. What began in Ukraine three months ago as a protest against the government of President Viktor F. Yanukovych has now turned into a big-power confrontation reminiscent of the Cold War and a significant challenge to international agreements on the sanctity of the borders of post-Soviet nations.
Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday called Russia’s action as “an act of aggression that is completely trumped up,” suggesting that Russia was “possibly trying to annex Crimea.” The Russian incursion also poses a new crisis for the Obama administration, which embraced the new government in Kiev but now finds itself confronted with an ever more thinly veiled invasion of Ukraine.
But while saying that Russia was “in direct, overt violation of international law,” Mr. Kerry, in an appearance on the NBC program “Meet the Press,” tempered his vigorous denunciation by saying that “the last thing anybody wants is a military option in this kind of a situation.” Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday condemned Russia for what he called an “incredible act of aggression” and threatened “very serious repercussions.” He said Russia’s action was “an act of aggression that is completely trumped up,” suggesting that Russia was “possibly trying to annex Crimea.”
Russia, Mr. Kerry said in one of three Sunday television appearances on the crisis, could pay “a huge price” for its behavior, including the possible cancellation of the Group of Eight meeting slated for June in Sochi. If this continues, he said, Mr. Putin “is not going to have a Sochi G8, he may not even remain in the G8.” Appearing on three Sunday news shows, Mr. Kerry said the Russia could pay “a huge price” for its behavior, including the possible cancellation of the Group of 8 meeting slated for June in Sochi. If this continues, he said, Mr. Putin “is not going to have a Sochi G-8, he may not even remain in the G-8.”
Before the NATO meeting, its secretary-general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, told Russia to stop its military activity and threats against a sovereign Ukraine. “What Russia is doing now in Ukraine violates the principles of the United Nations Charter,” he said. “It threatens peace and security in Europe. Russia must stop its military activities and its threats.” Mr. Kerry said Moscow still had a “right set of choices” it could make to defuse the crisis. Otherwise, G-8 countries and other nations were prepared to “to go to the hilt to isolate Russia,” he said. He mentioned visa bans, asset freezes and trade isolation as possible steps, but not military action. On the NBC program “Meet the Press,” Mr. Kerry said that “the last thing anybody wants is a military option in this kind of situation.”
What began three months ago as a protest against the Ukrainian government has now turned into a big-power confrontation reminiscent of the Cold War and a significant challenge to international agreements on the sanctity of the borders of the post-Soviet nations. Britain, France and Germany joined the United States in suspending participation in preparatory meetings for the Sochi summit. Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius of France said on Europe 1 radio that Moscow must “realize that decisions have costs.” And Germany’s foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, said that “we are on a very dangerous track of increasing tensions,” but that “it is still possible to turn around. A new division of Europe can still be prevented.”
In Crimea, the situation was calm but hardly placid on Sunday morning, with fewer soldiers visible on the streets. Some heavily armed soldiers without insignia had taken up positions around small Ukrainian military bases, but did not try to enter them. In Moscow, Mr. Putin’s spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, responded dismissively. “It’s not a minus for Russia,” he said. “It will be a minus for the G-8.”
At Perevalnoye, a small Ukrainian base some 15 miles south of Simferopol on the road to Yalta, hundreds of soldiers with masks, helmets and goggles, in unmarked uniforms, surrounded the base, using vehicles with Russian plates. Inside about two dozen Ukrainian soldiers could be seen, equipped with an old BMP, a combination of a light tank and armored personnel carrier. Britain’s foreign secretary, William Hague, traveled to Kiev on Sunday evening to meet with the new government and express support, and he said that was is urging restraint from all parties.
The Ukrainian commander, Col. Sergei Starozhenko, 38, told reporters the unmarked troops had arrived about 5 a.m. and “they want to block the base.” He said he expected them to bring reinforcements and call for talks. Asked how many men he has at his command, he said simply, “Enough.” After 15 minutes of conversation with what appeared to be a Russian officer, he said, “There won’t be war,” and returned inside, while the standoff continued. The NATO alliance held an emergency meeting in Brussels that was mostly designed to reassure members with Russian minorities, like the Baltics, and allies of Ukraine, like Poland, that NATO was ready to defend them. Ukraine is not a member of NATO, though it has some military and political cooperation with it.
Before the NATO meeting, its secretary-general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, told Russia to stop its military activity and threats against Ukraine. “What Russia is doing now in Ukraine violates the principles of the United Nations Charter,” he said. “It threatens peace and security in Europe. Russia must stop its military activities and its threats.”
But it was difficult to see what immediate penalties would be put on Moscow to retreat on Crimea or to not broaden its military moves into eastern Ukraine. Mr. Putin seems to have decided that undermining the new, pro-European government in Kiev was worth most any plausible price in economic or diplomatic isolation, judging that the West would not react militarily.
In Moscow, there were some small protests of the military action, though they were quickly broken up by the police, even as many more demonstrated in favor of Mr. Putin’s actions.
Eastern Ukraine was relatively calm on Sunday, with the Ukrainian government making plans to reinforce its control by naming some prominent businessmen, with thousands of people dependent on them for work, as regional governors. Pro-Moscow demonstrators flew Russian flags on Saturday and Sunday at government buildings in cities including Kharkiv, Donetsk, Odessa and Dnipropetrovsk. In places, they clashed with anti-Russian protesters and guards defending the buildings.
In Crimea, where pro-Russian authorities have announced a referendum on autonomy on March 30, Ukrainian forces were under tremendous pressure. Hundreds of troops acting in the name of the provisional pro-Russian government in Crimea fanned out to persuade the thin Ukrainian forces there to give up their arms or swear allegiance to the new authorities, while the new government in Kiev tried to keep their loyalty while ordering them not to shoot unless under fire.
There were reports Sunday evening that the newly appointed Ukrainian Navy chief, Rear Adm. Denis Berezovsky, had sworn allegiance to the people of Crimea, who are decidedly pro-Russian. A YouTube video showed an anxious, sweating Admiral Berezovsky, eyes downcast, quickly muttering a statement, saying: “I, Berezovsky Denis, swear allegiance to the Crimean people and pledge to protect it, as required by the regulations.”
The former Ukrainian chief of staff, Adm. Yuriy Ilyin, who left the post on Friday after a reported heart attack, told reporters in Crimea that Ukrainian soldiers unfortunately were “hostages” of the situation. Emotions were made more complicated by the strong ties between the two navies, since the Ukrainian one was formed in the division of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
In Crimea, fewer soldiers were visible on the streets. Some heavily armed soldiers without insignia had taken up positions around Ukrainian military bases, but did not try to enter them.
At Perevalnoe, about 15 miles south of Simferopol on the road to Yalta, hundreds of soldiers with masks, helmets and goggles, in unmarked uniforms, surrounded a Ukrainian marine and infantry base, using vehicles with Russian plates. Inside about two dozen Ukrainian soldiers could be seen, equipped with an old BMP armored personnel carrier.
The Ukrainian commander, Col. Sergei Starozhenko, 38, told reporters the unmarked troops had arrived about 5 a.m. and “they want to block the base.” He said he expected them to bring reinforcements and call for talks. Asked how many men he had at his command, he said simply, “Enough.” After 15 minutes of conversation with what appeared to be a Russian officer, he said, “There won’t be war,” and returned inside, while the standoff continued.
In Sevastopol, pro-Russian “self-defense” forces blocked the entrances of the main Ukrainian naval headquarters. There was no sign of Russian troops, Ukrainian officers were at work inside and armed Ukrainians guards were on patrol behind the closed gates.In Sevastopol, pro-Russian “self-defense” forces blocked the entrances of the main Ukrainian naval headquarters. There was no sign of Russian troops, Ukrainian officers were at work inside and armed Ukrainians guards were on patrol behind the closed gates.
Pro-Russia demonstrators put up a banner reading: “Sevastopol without Fascism,” and urged Ukrainian officers to come over to their side rather than serve the “illegal fascist regime” in Kiev. The demonstrators shoved packs of cigarettes, candy and bottles of water through the gate for the Ukrainian guards. Pro-Russia demonstrators put up a banner reading: “Sevastopol without Fascism,” and urged Ukrainian officers to come over to their side rather than serve the “illegal fascist regime” in Kiev. The demonstrators pushed packs of cigarettes, candy and bottles of water through the gate for the Ukrainian guards.
“They have to make a choice -- they either obey the fascists in Kiev or the people,” said Sergei Seryogin, a pro-Russia activist outside. Kiev, he said, “is illegal power” and should be ignored by all military and civil officials. Outside, Sergei Seryogin, a pro-Russia activist, said, “They have to make a choice — they either obey the fascists in Kiev or the people.” Kiev, he said, “is illegal power” and should be ignored by all military and civil officials.
At the Balaklava offices of the Ukrainian coast guard and border police, the Russian troop trucks that effectively besieged it on Saturday were gone. A member of the Sevastopol Council, Sergei Nepran, said that there had been an agreement with the Russians that the Ukrainians would remain in the office and not put out to sea. Mr. Nepran claimed that the Sevastopol police “have come over to the people” and are now under control of a new pro-Russian mayor, Anatoly Chaly. Mr Chaly, he said, had replaced a Kiev-appointed mayor who was forced to resign. At the Balaklava offices of the Ukrainian coast guard and border police, the Russian troop trucks that effectively besieged it on Saturday were gone. A member of the Sevastopol Council, Sergei Nepran, said that there had been an agreement with the Russians that the Ukrainians would remain in the office and not be put out to sea. Mr. Nepran claimed that the Sevastopol police “have come over to the people” and are now under control of a new pro-Russian mayor, Anatoly Chaly. Mr. Chaly, he said, had replaced a Kiev-appointed mayor who was forced to resign.
On Saturday, Russia took effective control of Crimea. Russian troops without identifying insignia but using military vehicles bearing the license plates of Russia’s Black Sea force encircled government buildings, closed the main airport and seized communication hubs, solidifying what began on Friday as a covert effort to control the largely pro-Russian region. A Ukrainian Marine base in the Crimean port of Feodosiya was also surrounded, with the soldiers refusing to disarm. While Ukraine pulled its coast guard vessels out of Crimean ports, Kiev said its naval fleet’s 10 ships were still in Sevastopol and remained loyal.
According to Kiev, Russia then flew in 6,000 more troops to a military airport. The civilian airports are now open again. On Sunday, Russia kept up its propaganda campaign in defense of the takeover, citing undefined threats to Russian citizens and proclaiming “massive defections” of Ukrainian forces in Crimea, which Western reporters said appeared to be unfounded. The state-owned Itar-Tass news agency cited the Russian border guard agency claiming that 675,000 Ukrainians had fled to Russia in January and February and that there were signs of a “humanitarian catastrophe.”
In Moscow, Mr. Putin on Saturday convened the upper house of Parliament to grant him authority to use force to protect Russian citizens and soldiers not only in Crimea but throughout Ukraine. Both actions — military and parliamentary — were a direct rebuff to President Obama, who on Friday pointedly warned Russia to respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Russia insists that its intervention is only to protect its citizens and interests from chaos and disorder following the still unexplained departure from Kiev of the Kremlin-backed president, Mr. Yanukovych.
Mr. Obama accused Russia on Saturday of a “breach of international law” and condemned the country’s military intervention, calling it a “clear violation” of Ukrainian sovereignty.Russia kept up its propaganda campaign on Sunday in defense of the takeover, citing undefined threats to Russian citizens and proclaiming “massive defections” of Ukrainian forces in Crimea, which Western reporters said appeared to be unfounded.
The state-owned Itar-Tass news agency cited the Russian border guard agency claiming that 675,000 Ukrainians had fled to Russia in January and February and that there were signs of a “humanitarian catastrophe.”
Russia insists that its intervention is only to protect its citizens and interests from chaos and disorder following the still unexplained departure from Kiev of it president, Viktor F. Yanukovych.
“If ‘revolutionary chaos’ in Ukraine continues, hundreds of thousands of refugees will flow into bordering Russian regions,” the border service said, according to Tass, providing another unsubstantiated justification for Russian military intervention.“If ‘revolutionary chaos’ in Ukraine continues, hundreds of thousands of refugees will flow into bordering Russian regions,” the border service said, according to Tass, providing another unsubstantiated justification for Russian military intervention.
Late Saturday, Ukraine’s acting president, Oleksandr V. Turchynov, said he had ordered Ukraine’s armed forces to full readiness because of the threat of “potential aggression.” In Kiev, Mr. Yatsenyuk, the prime minister, said he was “convinced” Russia would not intervene militarily in eastern Ukraine, “since this would be the beginning of war and the end of all relations between Ukraine and Russia.”
He also said he had ordered stepped-up security at nuclear power plants, airports and other strategic infrastructure.
Mr. Yatsenyuk, the prime minister, said he was “convinced” Russia would not intervene militarily in eastern Ukraine, “since this would be the beginning of war and the end of all relations between Ukraine and Russia.”
Mr. Obama, who had warned Russia on Friday that “there will be costs” if it violated Ukraine’s sovereignty, spoke with Mr. Putin for 90 minutes on Saturday, according to the White House, and urged him to withdraw his forces back to their bases in Crimea and to stop “any interference” in other parts of Ukraine.
In a statement afterward, the White House said the United States would suspend participation in preparatory meetings for the G-8 economic conference to be held in Sochi, Russia, in June, and warned of “greater political and economic isolation” for Russia.
The Kremlin offered its own description of the call, in which it said Mr. Putin spoke of “a real threat to the lives and health of Russian citizens” in Ukraine, and warned that “in case of any further spread of violence to Eastern Ukraine and Crimea, Russia retains the right to protect its interests and the Russian-speaking population of those areas.”
In Britain, Prime Minister David Cameron said that “there can be no excuse for outside military intervention” in Ukraine.
Canada said it was recalling its ambassador from Moscow and, like the United States, suspending preparations for the G-8 meeting.
At the United Nations, the Security Council on Saturday held an emergency meeting on Ukraine for the second time in two days. The American ambassador, Samantha Power, called for an international observer mission, urged Russia to “stand down” and took a dig at the Russian ambassador, Vitaly I. Churkin, on the issue of state sovereignty, which the Kremlin frequently invokes in criticizing the West over its handling of Syria and other disputes.
“Russian actions in Ukraine are violating the sovereignty of Ukraine and pose a threat to peace and security,” she said.
The secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, also spoke with Mr. Putin on Saturday and described himself as “gravely concerned” and urged Mr. Putin to negotiate with officials in Kiev.
Mr. Yanukovych’s refusal, under Russian pressure, to sign new political and free trade agreements with the European Union last fall set off the civil unrest that last month led to the deaths of more than 80 people, and ultimately unraveled his presidency. The country’s new interim government has said it will revive those accords.
Sergey Tigipko, a former deputy prime minister of Ukraine and one-time ally of Mr. Yanukovych, said he flew to Moscow on Saturday in hopes of brokering a truce.
For the new government in Kiev, the tensions in Crimea created an even more dire and immediate emergency than the looming financial disaster that they had intended to focus on in their first days in office.
A $15 billion bailout that Mr. Yanukovych secured from Russia has been suspended because of the political upheaval, and Ukraine is in desperate need of financial assistance. Mr. Yatsenyuk, the acting prime minister, had said that the government’s first responsibility was to begin negotiations with the International Monetary Fund and start to put in place the economic reforms and painful austerity measures that the fund requested in exchange for help.