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| Air Links Are Severed as Russia Tightens Its Grip on Crimean Peninsula | Air Links Are Severed as Russia Tightens Its Grip on Crimean Peninsula |
| (6 months later) | |
| KIEV, Ukraine — The airport in the regional capital of Simferopol was closed on Tuesday to all flights except those heading to and from Moscow, in the boldest display yet of Russia’s tightening control over Crimea. | |
| The announcement that air links had been severed between Crimea and the Ukrainian capital of Kiev raised the possibility that the peninsula might be closed off indefinitely from the rest of Ukraine, and it immediately prompted a sellout of tickets for connecting flights on Aeroflot, the Russian national carrier. | The announcement that air links had been severed between Crimea and the Ukrainian capital of Kiev raised the possibility that the peninsula might be closed off indefinitely from the rest of Ukraine, and it immediately prompted a sellout of tickets for connecting flights on Aeroflot, the Russian national carrier. |
| Even as Russia consolidated its grip on the embattled peninsula, diplomatic efforts between the Obama administration and the Kremlin appeared stalled, with the two sides continuing to engage in menacing military exercises and trade threats of economic retaliation. | Even as Russia consolidated its grip on the embattled peninsula, diplomatic efforts between the Obama administration and the Kremlin appeared stalled, with the two sides continuing to engage in menacing military exercises and trade threats of economic retaliation. |
| Secretary of State John Kerry spoke by telephone on Tuesday with the Russian foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, as they have repeatedly done since the outset of the crisis in Crimea, but neither side reported any substantial progress. | Secretary of State John Kerry spoke by telephone on Tuesday with the Russian foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, as they have repeatedly done since the outset of the crisis in Crimea, but neither side reported any substantial progress. |
| Russian forces have been stationed at Crimea’s main airports since late last week, when the military occupation began, and Russian soldiers have recently seized outposts of the border police, effectively taking control of who enters or exits the region. | Russian forces have been stationed at Crimea’s main airports since late last week, when the military occupation began, and Russian soldiers have recently seized outposts of the border police, effectively taking control of who enters or exits the region. |
| The move to block most flights came as the ousted Ukrainian president, Viktor F. Yanukovych, who is now living in self-imposed exile in Russia, appealed to the country’s military units to refuse to follow the orders of the new interim authorities, declaring that he remained commander in chief and would return to Ukraine as soon as conditions permitted. | The move to block most flights came as the ousted Ukrainian president, Viktor F. Yanukovych, who is now living in self-imposed exile in Russia, appealed to the country’s military units to refuse to follow the orders of the new interim authorities, declaring that he remained commander in chief and would return to Ukraine as soon as conditions permitted. |
| In Kiev, the new government announced that it would seek to create a National Guard, composed of perhaps 20,000 military veterans, in an effort to bolster Ukraine’s threadbare military. The plan was announced by the acting president, Oleksandr V. Turchynov, during a session of Parliament and was discussed in a meeting between the first deputy prime minister, Vitaly Yarema, and the British ambassador to Ukraine, Simon Smith. | In Kiev, the new government announced that it would seek to create a National Guard, composed of perhaps 20,000 military veterans, in an effort to bolster Ukraine’s threadbare military. The plan was announced by the acting president, Oleksandr V. Turchynov, during a session of Parliament and was discussed in a meeting between the first deputy prime minister, Vitaly Yarema, and the British ambassador to Ukraine, Simon Smith. |
| As the flight ban took effect on Tuesday morning, a Ukrainian International Airlines flight was denied permission to land in Simferopol and ultimately returned to Kiev after being rerouted briefly toward the port city of Odessa. | As the flight ban took effect on Tuesday morning, a Ukrainian International Airlines flight was denied permission to land in Simferopol and ultimately returned to Kiev after being rerouted briefly toward the port city of Odessa. |
| In Simferopol, the regional Parliament took yet another step toward seceding from Ukraine by adopting a resolution laying out the steps it would take toward becoming part of Russia if a public referendum on the matter on Sunday is approved. | In Simferopol, the regional Parliament took yet another step toward seceding from Ukraine by adopting a resolution laying out the steps it would take toward becoming part of Russia if a public referendum on the matter on Sunday is approved. |
| In the resolution, the Parliament declared that if the outcome of the referendum ratifies its decision last week to become part of Russia, Crimea would immediately become a sovereign, independent nation and would then formally request to be absorbed into the Russian Federation. | In the resolution, the Parliament declared that if the outcome of the referendum ratifies its decision last week to become part of Russia, Crimea would immediately become a sovereign, independent nation and would then formally request to be absorbed into the Russian Federation. |
| The Ukrainian government in Kiev has said that the Crimean Parliament’s actions are illegal and that it should be disbanded. | The Ukrainian government in Kiev has said that the Crimean Parliament’s actions are illegal and that it should be disbanded. |
| Crimea, which has enjoyed substantial autonomy since shortly after Ukraine’s independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, also has its own Constitution, which declares Crimea to be an integral part of Ukraine. Amendments to the Crimean Constitution require approval not only of the Crimean Parliament but also the national Parliament. | Crimea, which has enjoyed substantial autonomy since shortly after Ukraine’s independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, also has its own Constitution, which declares Crimea to be an integral part of Ukraine. Amendments to the Crimean Constitution require approval not only of the Crimean Parliament but also the national Parliament. |
| The resolution adopted in Simferopol on Tuesday, however, made no reference to the Crimean Constitution and instead cited the United Nations Charter, as well as “many other international instruments recognizing the right of peoples to self-determination.” It also cited a ruling by the International Court of Justice in July 2010 that supported Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008. | The resolution adopted in Simferopol on Tuesday, however, made no reference to the Crimean Constitution and instead cited the United Nations Charter, as well as “many other international instruments recognizing the right of peoples to self-determination.” It also cited a ruling by the International Court of Justice in July 2010 that supported Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008. |
| That decision was expected to have far-reaching consequences by potentially granting legal support for secessionist movements in places as diverse as northern Cyprus, Somaliland and Transnistria in Moldova. | That decision was expected to have far-reaching consequences by potentially granting legal support for secessionist movements in places as diverse as northern Cyprus, Somaliland and Transnistria in Moldova. |
| In the Kosovo case, the positions of Russia and the United States were reversed, with the United States supporting Kosovo’s push for self-determination and declaration of independence from Serbia and Russia insisting that the declaration was a violation of Serbia’s sovereignty. Kosovo was about 90 percent Albanian at the time, while Crimea’s ethnic Russian population, at about 60 percent, is far smaller. | In the Kosovo case, the positions of Russia and the United States were reversed, with the United States supporting Kosovo’s push for self-determination and declaration of independence from Serbia and Russia insisting that the declaration was a violation of Serbia’s sovereignty. Kosovo was about 90 percent Albanian at the time, while Crimea’s ethnic Russian population, at about 60 percent, is far smaller. |
| On Wednesday, President Obama is scheduled to meet at the White House with the acting prime minister of Ukraine, Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk, strongly emphasizing American support for the provisional government in Kiev, which the Kremlin has declared to be illegitimate. | On Wednesday, President Obama is scheduled to meet at the White House with the acting prime minister of Ukraine, Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk, strongly emphasizing American support for the provisional government in Kiev, which the Kremlin has declared to be illegitimate. |
| In an address in the national Parliament on Tuesday before leaving for the United States, Mr. Yatsenyuk said the new Ukrainian government was open to negotiations with Russia. | In an address in the national Parliament on Tuesday before leaving for the United States, Mr. Yatsenyuk said the new Ukrainian government was open to negotiations with Russia. |
| “On behalf of the Ukrainian government, I declare that Ukraine is ready for transparent negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and to rebuild a new type of relationship between Ukraine and Russia,” he said. | “On behalf of the Ukrainian government, I declare that Ukraine is ready for transparent negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and to rebuild a new type of relationship between Ukraine and Russia,” he said. |
| At the same time, he demanded that Russia withdraw its forces, and he mocked Kremlin officials who have repeatedly referred to Russia and Ukraine as fraternal nations. “Now it’s clear what a fraternal relationship means,” Mr. Yatsenyuk said. “It means to come with full ammunition in tanks and A.P.C.s into the territory of a sovereign state,” he added, referring to armored personnel carriers. “We do not need such a brotherhood.” | At the same time, he demanded that Russia withdraw its forces, and he mocked Kremlin officials who have repeatedly referred to Russia and Ukraine as fraternal nations. “Now it’s clear what a fraternal relationship means,” Mr. Yatsenyuk said. “It means to come with full ammunition in tanks and A.P.C.s into the territory of a sovereign state,” he added, referring to armored personnel carriers. “We do not need such a brotherhood.” |
| After Washington, Mr. Yatsenyuk is scheduled to visit the United Nations on Thursday. | After Washington, Mr. Yatsenyuk is scheduled to visit the United Nations on Thursday. |
| European leaders also focused on the crisis on Tuesday. In Warsaw, Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland said the European Union would impose sanctions on Russia in response to the occupation of Crimea beginning Monday, Reuters reported. And Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany was due to visit Poland on Wednesday to discuss Ukraine. | European leaders also focused on the crisis on Tuesday. In Warsaw, Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland said the European Union would impose sanctions on Russia in response to the occupation of Crimea beginning Monday, Reuters reported. And Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany was due to visit Poland on Wednesday to discuss Ukraine. |
| Crimea, whose population includes sizable minority populations of ethnic Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars, poses a more complicated scenario than the secessionist movements in more monolithic regions like Kosovo or Catalonia in Spain. | Crimea, whose population includes sizable minority populations of ethnic Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars, poses a more complicated scenario than the secessionist movements in more monolithic regions like Kosovo or Catalonia in Spain. |
| On Tuesday, the main Crimean Tatar organization, which has expressed opposition to breaking away from Ukraine, issued a statement urging a peaceful resolution to the crisis. “We appeal to all the inhabitants of the Crimea — in this difficult time maintain restraint and calm, keep mutual respect and good neighborly feelings, don’t fall for provocations and prevent xenophobia and religious discord,” the group said. | On Tuesday, the main Crimean Tatar organization, which has expressed opposition to breaking away from Ukraine, issued a statement urging a peaceful resolution to the crisis. “We appeal to all the inhabitants of the Crimea — in this difficult time maintain restraint and calm, keep mutual respect and good neighborly feelings, don’t fall for provocations and prevent xenophobia and religious discord,” the group said. |
| At a news conference in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Mr. Yanukovych also criticized Western governments for promising financial aid to Ukraine’s provisional government: “You don’t have any legal grounds to provide financial assistance to these bandits.” | At a news conference in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Mr. Yanukovych also criticized Western governments for promising financial aid to Ukraine’s provisional government: “You don’t have any legal grounds to provide financial assistance to these bandits.” |
| Mr. Yanukovych’s remarks were largely greeted with derision in Kiev, where even former political allies turned against him once he fled the country. The authorities have declared him a fugitive who is wanted on charges of mass murder in connection with the deaths of more than 80 demonstrators last month. | Mr. Yanukovych’s remarks were largely greeted with derision in Kiev, where even former political allies turned against him once he fled the country. The authorities have declared him a fugitive who is wanted on charges of mass murder in connection with the deaths of more than 80 demonstrators last month. |
| “It was clear his statement was written in the Kremlin,” Valeriy Chaly, deputy director of the Razumkov Ukrainian Center for Economic and Political Studies and a former deputy foreign minister, said of Mr. Yanukovych’s remarks. “People watching were laughing at Yanukovych. When he said he would return, self-defense forces said, ‘We are waiting for you.’ ” | “It was clear his statement was written in the Kremlin,” Valeriy Chaly, deputy director of the Razumkov Ukrainian Center for Economic and Political Studies and a former deputy foreign minister, said of Mr. Yanukovych’s remarks. “People watching were laughing at Yanukovych. When he said he would return, self-defense forces said, ‘We are waiting for you.’ ” |
| In Washington on Tuesday, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, John O. Brennan, said that President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, in citing concerns for the safety of Russian-speaking Ukrainians, is laying the groundwork for possible action in eastern Ukraine. | In Washington on Tuesday, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, John O. Brennan, said that President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, in citing concerns for the safety of Russian-speaking Ukrainians, is laying the groundwork for possible action in eastern Ukraine. |
| “He’s laid a sort of a public predicate for possible moves,” Mr. Brennan said at the Council on Foreign Relations. “Has he made a decision?” Mr. Brennan asked. “Well, I guess only Putin knows if he has made that final decision. But what we’ve tried to do is to identify what would be the reasons and how he might, you know, make those moves. What are the factors that he will take into account, and what are the costs that he is willing to incur if he decides to move across the border?” | “He’s laid a sort of a public predicate for possible moves,” Mr. Brennan said at the Council on Foreign Relations. “Has he made a decision?” Mr. Brennan asked. “Well, I guess only Putin knows if he has made that final decision. But what we’ve tried to do is to identify what would be the reasons and how he might, you know, make those moves. What are the factors that he will take into account, and what are the costs that he is willing to incur if he decides to move across the border?” |