This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/as-pro-russian-militants-ignore-deadline-ukraine-vows-to-continue-operation/2014/04/14/2f4bc1fa-c3bb-11e3-bcec-b71ee10e9bc3_story.html?wprss=rss_world
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Ukraine’s president calls for deployment of U.N. peacekeeping troops | Ukraine’s president calls for deployment of U.N. peacekeeping troops |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| MOSCOW — With pro-Russian militants attacking more buildings in eastern Ukraine Monday and ignoring a government deadline to disperse, Ukraine’s acting president said he would welcome United Nations peacekeepers to help establish order by conducting a “joint counterterrorist operation” with Ukrainian forces. | MOSCOW — With pro-Russian militants attacking more buildings in eastern Ukraine Monday and ignoring a government deadline to disperse, Ukraine’s acting president said he would welcome United Nations peacekeepers to help establish order by conducting a “joint counterterrorist operation” with Ukrainian forces. |
| A statement posted on his official Web site said President Oleksandr Turchynov raised the matter in a telephone call with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, accusing Russia of sending “special units” to eastern Ukraine to “conduct armed seizure of the administrative buildings and threaten lives of hundreds of thousands of our citizens.” He said Russia was repeating the scenario of its takeover of Crimea least month, but he noted that the situation in eastern Ukraine is different “because the majority of people do not want to support separatists.” | A statement posted on his official Web site said President Oleksandr Turchynov raised the matter in a telephone call with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, accusing Russia of sending “special units” to eastern Ukraine to “conduct armed seizure of the administrative buildings and threaten lives of hundreds of thousands of our citizens.” He said Russia was repeating the scenario of its takeover of Crimea least month, but he noted that the situation in eastern Ukraine is different “because the majority of people do not want to support separatists.” |
| Vowing to “fight back [against] terrorism and Russian aggression,” Turchynov raised the prospect of conducting a “joint operation with the U.N. peacekeeping forces” so that the world could “witness the legality” of Ukrainian forces’ actions. | Vowing to “fight back [against] terrorism and Russian aggression,” Turchynov raised the prospect of conducting a “joint operation with the U.N. peacekeeping forces” so that the world could “witness the legality” of Ukrainian forces’ actions. |
| “We do not object and even welcome holding of joint counterterrorist operation in the East,” Turchynov said, according to the statement. It said Ban pledged to “do everything I can for the situation to be resolved peacefully as soon as possible.” | “We do not object and even welcome holding of joint counterterrorist operation in the East,” Turchynov said, according to the statement. It said Ban pledged to “do everything I can for the situation to be resolved peacefully as soon as possible.” |
| Given that any such move by the United Nations would require Russian approval in the Security Council, where Moscow holds a veto, the idea of sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine would seem to be a non-starter. | Given that any such move by the United Nations would require Russian approval in the Security Council, where Moscow holds a veto, the idea of sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine would seem to be a non-starter. |
| Turchynov’s appeal came amid mounting accusations, not only in Kiev but in Washington and London, that Russia has instigated and coordinated a spate of armed building takeovers by men in unmarked uniforms that began Saturday. Reuters news agency reported Monday that separatists in the city of Slavyansk have appealed openly to Russia for help on behalf of the “Donetsk People’s Republic.” | Turchynov’s appeal came amid mounting accusations, not only in Kiev but in Washington and London, that Russia has instigated and coordinated a spate of armed building takeovers by men in unmarked uniforms that began Saturday. Reuters news agency reported Monday that separatists in the city of Slavyansk have appealed openly to Russia for help on behalf of the “Donetsk People’s Republic.” |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin is viewing developments in Ukraine “with great concern,” his press secretary, Dmitri Peskov, told reporters Monday. | Russian President Vladimir Putin is viewing developments in Ukraine “with great concern,” his press secretary, Dmitri Peskov, told reporters Monday. |
| “Many appeals — addressed personally to Putin, asking to help in this or that way and asking to intervene in this or that way — have been received,” Peskov said. | “Many appeals — addressed personally to Putin, asking to help in this or that way and asking to intervene in this or that way — have been received,” Peskov said. |
| Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov denied Monday that Russia has any agents in eastern Ukraine, and he said it is the West’s responsibility to restrain the government in Kiev. | Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov denied Monday that Russia has any agents in eastern Ukraine, and he said it is the West’s responsibility to restrain the government in Kiev. |
| “We do not interfere in the internal affairs of Ukraine; it is contrary to our interests,” Lavrov said at a news conference. | “We do not interfere in the internal affairs of Ukraine; it is contrary to our interests,” Lavrov said at a news conference. |
| British Foreign Secretary William Hague scoffed at such claims. “I don’t think denials of Russian involvement have a shred of credibility,” he said Monday as he arrived in Luxembourg for a European foreign ministers’ meeting. | British Foreign Secretary William Hague scoffed at such claims. “I don’t think denials of Russian involvement have a shred of credibility,” he said Monday as he arrived in Luxembourg for a European foreign ministers’ meeting. |
| “There can’t really be any real doubt that this is something that has been planned and brought about by Russia,” Hague said. “The forces involved are well armed, well trained, well equipped, well coordinated, behaving in exactly the same way as what turned out to be Russian forces behaving in Crimea.” | “There can’t really be any real doubt that this is something that has been planned and brought about by Russia,” Hague said. “The forces involved are well armed, well trained, well equipped, well coordinated, behaving in exactly the same way as what turned out to be Russian forces behaving in Crimea.” |
| The U.S. Defense Department, meanwhile, protested what it described as harassment of a U.S. Navy ship by a Russian attack aircraft Saturday in the Black Sea. | |
| A military official who was not authorized to speak on the record said the Russian aircraft, an apparently unarmed Sukhoi Su-25, made “multiple close-range, low-altitude passes” near the USS Donald Cook, a guided missile destroyer, for 90 minutes while the ship was conducting unspecified “routine operations” in international waters. | |
| Using communication systems accessible to Russian military personnel, the crew aboard the American ship issued several queries and warnings to the aircraft but received no answer, the official said. | |
| “This was a provocative action,” the official said. “It is inconsistent with international protocols and what you would expect from a professional military.” | |
| Turchynov has vowed that Ukrainian forces will move to evict the militants occupying buildings in eastern Ukraine now that a Monday morning deadline has passed. Lavrov warned that the use of armed force by the government would have serious consequences. | |
| Turchynov also said Monday that he would be open to a referendum next month on a decentralization of authority to Ukraine’s regions. But Lavrov said that would be unacceptable if negotiators from eastern Ukraine are not given a role in formulating the question or questions to be put to a vote. | Turchynov also said Monday that he would be open to a referendum next month on a decentralization of authority to Ukraine’s regions. But Lavrov said that would be unacceptable if negotiators from eastern Ukraine are not given a role in formulating the question or questions to be put to a vote. |
| With sporadic gunfights having left at least nine injured and one dead, the prospects for a negotiated settlement have dimmed considerably. | With sporadic gunfights having left at least nine injured and one dead, the prospects for a negotiated settlement have dimmed considerably. |
| In the city of Horlivka, about 150 separatists stormed and seized the local police headquarters. In Luhansk, close to the Russian border, workers were evacuated from the local administration building Monday morning, the Interfax news agency reported, without being told why. | In the city of Horlivka, about 150 separatists stormed and seized the local police headquarters. In Luhansk, close to the Russian border, workers were evacuated from the local administration building Monday morning, the Interfax news agency reported, without being told why. |
| “The blood of Ukrainian heroes has been shed in a war which the Russian Federation is waging against Ukraine,” Turchynov said in an address to the nation Sunday evening. “The aggressor has not stopped and is continuing to sow disorder in the east of the country.” | “The blood of Ukrainian heroes has been shed in a war which the Russian Federation is waging against Ukraine,” Turchynov said in an address to the nation Sunday evening. “The aggressor has not stopped and is continuing to sow disorder in the east of the country.” |
| The armed assaults on government buildings in the eastern Donetsk region, close to the Russian border, have alarmed Ukrainian leaders and their Western backers. The attacks, officials said, were reminiscent of the shadowy invasion of the Crimean Peninsula, which resulted in its annexation by Russia last month. | The armed assaults on government buildings in the eastern Donetsk region, close to the Russian border, have alarmed Ukrainian leaders and their Western backers. The attacks, officials said, were reminiscent of the shadowy invasion of the Crimean Peninsula, which resulted in its annexation by Russia last month. |
| The West has been cautioning Ukraine against starting a shooting war with the separatists for fear that it would offer Russia, which has thousands of troops gathered across the border, a pretext for invasion. Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said, however, that he had no alternative but to begin an “anti-terrorist” campaign Sunday after days of urging the separatists to go home peacefully. | The West has been cautioning Ukraine against starting a shooting war with the separatists for fear that it would offer Russia, which has thousands of troops gathered across the border, a pretext for invasion. Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said, however, that he had no alternative but to begin an “anti-terrorist” campaign Sunday after days of urging the separatists to go home peacefully. |
| At an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Sunday night, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin warned of “extremely significant consequences” if Ukraine’s government follows through with orders to use military force. | At an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Sunday night, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin warned of “extremely significant consequences” if Ukraine’s government follows through with orders to use military force. |
| “In just a few hours’ time, things might take an irreversible turn for the worse,” he said. He also indicated that Russia had agreed only “in principle” to attend a meeting on the crisis scheduled to take place Thursday among Secretary of State John F. Kerry and counterparts from Russia, Ukraine and the European Union. | “In just a few hours’ time, things might take an irreversible turn for the worse,” he said. He also indicated that Russia had agreed only “in principle” to attend a meeting on the crisis scheduled to take place Thursday among Secretary of State John F. Kerry and counterparts from Russia, Ukraine and the European Union. |
| “What do you think?” Churkin said. “Tomorrow, there’s going to be the use of armed force and hostilities . . . and we’re going to sign off on that meeting? That is going to be fundamentally undermined if military operations are commenced in the southeastern region of Ukraine.” | “What do you think?” Churkin said. “Tomorrow, there’s going to be the use of armed force and hostilities . . . and we’re going to sign off on that meeting? That is going to be fundamentally undermined if military operations are commenced in the southeastern region of Ukraine.” |
| Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, responded sharply, saying, “It is not the United States that has escalated this situation. It is the Russian Federation.” | Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, responded sharply, saying, “It is not the United States that has escalated this situation. It is the Russian Federation.” |
| “While we would like to place our faith in talks,” she added, “it is hard to reconcile the behavior of the Russian Federation, the propaganda of the Russian Federation, the military actions of the Russian Federation . . . it is hard to reconcile those acts with this appeal for diplomacy and de-escalation, an appeal which we wish were, in fact, sincere.” | “While we would like to place our faith in talks,” she added, “it is hard to reconcile the behavior of the Russian Federation, the propaganda of the Russian Federation, the military actions of the Russian Federation . . . it is hard to reconcile those acts with this appeal for diplomacy and de-escalation, an appeal which we wish were, in fact, sincere.” |
| Although Russia appeared to wish that the “Internet did not exist,” Power said, the world could see videos clearly indicating that what Churkin called “demonstrations and protests” were, in fact, organized actions by well-armed and organized paramilitary forces. She repeated international calls for Russia to pull back its tens of thousands of troops massed on the Ukrainian border. | Although Russia appeared to wish that the “Internet did not exist,” Power said, the world could see videos clearly indicating that what Churkin called “demonstrations and protests” were, in fact, organized actions by well-armed and organized paramilitary forces. She repeated international calls for Russia to pull back its tens of thousands of troops massed on the Ukrainian border. |
| The meeting was the 10th emergency council session on the Ukraine crisis, this time called by Russia. As it began, Churkin condemned “grotesque Russia-phobia” on the part of elements of the Kiev government for provoking a response from Russian-speaking minorities in eastern Ukraine. | The meeting was the 10th emergency council session on the Ukraine crisis, this time called by Russia. As it began, Churkin condemned “grotesque Russia-phobia” on the part of elements of the Kiev government for provoking a response from Russian-speaking minorities in eastern Ukraine. |
| Power, along with representatives from Britain and France, ridiculed Churkin’s description of the situation, and they criticized what they called intensive Russian propaganda and media control designed to isolate and control the population of eastern Ukraine. | Power, along with representatives from Britain and France, ridiculed Churkin’s description of the situation, and they criticized what they called intensive Russian propaganda and media control designed to isolate and control the population of eastern Ukraine. |
| But while Russia stood alone in its version of events on the ground, the council offered no solution other than to call for calm and dialogue. | But while Russia stood alone in its version of events on the ground, the council offered no solution other than to call for calm and dialogue. |
| Appearing Sunday on ABC’s “This Week With George Stephanopoulos,” Power said the separatist action in eastern Ukraine “has all the telltale signs of what we saw in Crimea” leading up to Russia’s annexation of the peninsula. “It’s professional. It’s coordinated. There’s nothing grass-roots-seeming about it,” she said. | Appearing Sunday on ABC’s “This Week With George Stephanopoulos,” Power said the separatist action in eastern Ukraine “has all the telltale signs of what we saw in Crimea” leading up to Russia’s annexation of the peninsula. “It’s professional. It’s coordinated. There’s nothing grass-roots-seeming about it,” she said. |
| If the attacks continue, she warned, the United States would intensify its sanctions against Russia. As for the Kiev government, it lost Crimea without firing a shot and has vowed not to repeat that scenario in eastern Ukraine. | If the attacks continue, she warned, the United States would intensify its sanctions against Russia. As for the Kiev government, it lost Crimea without firing a shot and has vowed not to repeat that scenario in eastern Ukraine. |
| In Washington, President Obama’s national security team discussed whether to move forward with additional sanctions. Although the administration has frozen assets and banned visas of individual Russians said to be “cronies” of the Russian president, Obama indicated that more serious measures would be implemented if Russian troops entered eastern Ukraine, including sanctions against economic sectors such as energy and mining. | In Washington, President Obama’s national security team discussed whether to move forward with additional sanctions. Although the administration has frozen assets and banned visas of individual Russians said to be “cronies” of the Russian president, Obama indicated that more serious measures would be implemented if Russian troops entered eastern Ukraine, including sanctions against economic sectors such as energy and mining. |
| The question now facing the administration is how to respond to alleged Russian destabilization that falls short of outright invasion. | The question now facing the administration is how to respond to alleged Russian destabilization that falls short of outright invasion. |
| Turchynov gave the separatists a deadline of 9 a.m. local time Monday to vacate the buildings and leave under an amnesty. Last week, they were given a deadline of Friday to do the same. The offer was ignored. | Turchynov gave the separatists a deadline of 9 a.m. local time Monday to vacate the buildings and leave under an amnesty. Last week, they were given a deadline of Friday to do the same. The offer was ignored. |
| Last Monday, separatists overran the Donetsk regional administration building and have held it ever since. On Saturday, they took the Donetsk regional police headquarters, while men in camouflage overwhelmed the police department in Slavyansk, a town 55 miles from the city of Donetsk. By Sunday, they had stormed other towns in the region. | Last Monday, separatists overran the Donetsk regional administration building and have held it ever since. On Saturday, they took the Donetsk regional police headquarters, while men in camouflage overwhelmed the police department in Slavyansk, a town 55 miles from the city of Donetsk. By Sunday, they had stormed other towns in the region. |
| William Branigin, Karen DeYoung and Ernesto Londoño in Washington and Karla Adam in London contributed to this report. |