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| Pro-Russian Rebels Seize Airport in Ukraine | Pro-Russian Rebels Seize Airport in Ukraine |
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| DONETSK, Ukraine — A fierce firefight broke out Monday afternoon after separatist rebels seized the main airport here, and Ukrainian government forces moved to retake control. A bombardment of the airport began shortly after noon, with smoke rising into the air. In the Kievsky neighborhood in the northern part of Donetsk, the boom of artillery startled pedestrians who scanned the skies for the source of the shelling. | DONETSK, Ukraine — A fierce firefight broke out Monday afternoon after separatist rebels seized the main airport here, and Ukrainian government forces moved to retake control. A bombardment of the airport began shortly after noon, with smoke rising into the air. In the Kievsky neighborhood in the northern part of Donetsk, the boom of artillery startled pedestrians who scanned the skies for the source of the shelling. |
| Automatic gunfire tore through a grassy area and a Ukrainian soldier ran for cover as the fighting appeared to escalate. The battle over the airport was underway just as Petro O. Poroshenko, elected in a landslide on Sunday, was giving a news briefing in Kiev, where he likened the armed separatists in the east to “Somali pirates” who have created a state of perpetual lawlessness. | |
| The burst of violence appeared to be the Ukrainian military launching an attack on separatists who had taken the airport. | |
| A spokesman for the operation, Alexei Dmitrashkovsky, said that two SU-25 Ukrainian military jets had flown over the airport and fired warning shots. He said the planes were shot at “in a chaotic way” from the ground. Then a MIG-24 fighter plane working with two helicopters landed a group of Ukrainian soldiers on the territory of the airport. That is when the firefight began. | |
| “Currently the territory is being cleansed,” he said by telephone. He did not say whether he was located in Donetsk. He said the operation had destroyed anti-aircraft missiles. | |
| Mr. Poroshenko has pledged to calm the separatist violence in the east, but he also said that he would not end an antiterror operation, which the Kiev government has carried out in recent weeks with very limited success in a bid to suppress the rebels. The attack on the airport suggested a new, perhaps desperate, escalation by the militants who in recent days have appeared to lose the political support of the Kremlin, which indicated that it would respect the results of Sunday’s election. | Mr. Poroshenko has pledged to calm the separatist violence in the east, but he also said that he would not end an antiterror operation, which the Kiev government has carried out in recent weeks with very limited success in a bid to suppress the rebels. The attack on the airport suggested a new, perhaps desperate, escalation by the militants who in recent days have appeared to lose the political support of the Kremlin, which indicated that it would respect the results of Sunday’s election. |
| Mr. Poroshenko’s election by a wide margin sent a clear message that Ukraine was prepared to move forward as a united, if besieged, country, with no indication of military action by Russia, or any prospect of secession and annexation as occurred with Crimea. Militants prevented voting throughout much of the east on Sunday, prompting accusations from some observers, including a United States senator, Kelly Ayotte, Republican of New Hampshire, that Russia had failed to honor a demand that it not interfere with the balloting. | Mr. Poroshenko’s election by a wide margin sent a clear message that Ukraine was prepared to move forward as a united, if besieged, country, with no indication of military action by Russia, or any prospect of secession and annexation as occurred with Crimea. Militants prevented voting throughout much of the east on Sunday, prompting accusations from some observers, including a United States senator, Kelly Ayotte, Republican of New Hampshire, that Russia had failed to honor a demand that it not interfere with the balloting. |
| Armed militants shut down the airport, which in recent weeks has mainly operated flights to Kiev, the capital, around 7 a.m. There were reports that the pro-Russian separatists had declared a state of emergency. | Armed militants shut down the airport, which in recent weeks has mainly operated flights to Kiev, the capital, around 7 a.m. There were reports that the pro-Russian separatists had declared a state of emergency. |
| According to the airport’s press service, several dozen armed men from the Donetsk People’s Republic had arrived at the airport around 3 a.m. and demanded that all Ukrainian military and security personnel leave. | According to the airport’s press service, several dozen armed men from the Donetsk People’s Republic had arrived at the airport around 3 a.m. and demanded that all Ukrainian military and security personnel leave. |
| There was no shooting or violence at that time. The statement said the armed men were still on the territory of the airport, but not in control of the flights, and that all flights were suspended temporarily. | There was no shooting or violence at that time. The statement said the armed men were still on the territory of the airport, but not in control of the flights, and that all flights were suspended temporarily. |
| Meanwhile, one of the self-declared leaders of the republic, Denis Pushilin, announced the start of a military “situation” on Monday, saying that the separatist group would begin to “clear our territory of outside troops,” according to Ostrov, an online news site in Donetsk. | Meanwhile, one of the self-declared leaders of the republic, Denis Pushilin, announced the start of a military “situation” on Monday, saying that the separatist group would begin to “clear our territory of outside troops,” according to Ostrov, an online news site in Donetsk. |
| The Ukrainian military has set up check points on highways in and around Donetsk and have been fighting separatists here for weeks. Much of the fighting has been low-grade skirmishes, but punctuated by bursts of more deadly violence. Last week 16 Ukrainian soldiers were killed at a checkpoint near the town of Volnovakha, south of Donetsk. The attackers were not identified. | The Ukrainian military has set up check points on highways in and around Donetsk and have been fighting separatists here for weeks. Much of the fighting has been low-grade skirmishes, but punctuated by bursts of more deadly violence. Last week 16 Ukrainian soldiers were killed at a checkpoint near the town of Volnovakha, south of Donetsk. The attackers were not identified. |
| In Moscow, Sergei V. Lavrov, the foreign minister, said that Russia saw the vote in Ukraine as a positive step, albeit with problems. | In Moscow, Sergei V. Lavrov, the foreign minister, said that Russia saw the vote in Ukraine as a positive step, albeit with problems. |
| “The fact that the elections were organized in most of the regions in Ukraine is generally positive,” Mr. Lavrov told a news conference, echoing remarks from President Vladimir V. Putin before the vote that Russia would respect the choice of the Ukrainian people. | “The fact that the elections were organized in most of the regions in Ukraine is generally positive,” Mr. Lavrov told a news conference, echoing remarks from President Vladimir V. Putin before the vote that Russia would respect the choice of the Ukrainian people. |
| The new government needed to engage all citizens, Mr. Lavrov said, negotiating the compromises needed to address the interests of all political forces, all ethnic groups and all faiths. “There will be little result without this,” Mr. Lavrov said, adding that continuing military operations in the southeast would be “a huge mistake.” | The new government needed to engage all citizens, Mr. Lavrov said, negotiating the compromises needed to address the interests of all political forces, all ethnic groups and all faiths. “There will be little result without this,” Mr. Lavrov said, adding that continuing military operations in the southeast would be “a huge mistake.” |
| He also endorsed Mr. Poroshenko’s plan to make his first visit to the Donbass region, saying that Kiev needed to establish a dialogue with all the regions. | He also endorsed Mr. Poroshenko’s plan to make his first visit to the Donbass region, saying that Kiev needed to establish a dialogue with all the regions. |
| Mr. Lavrov welcomed Mr. Poroshenko’s statements, saying that he was eager to engage with Moscow, but he rejected the idea that the United States and Europe needed to be involved. “We don’t need intermediaries,” Mr. Lavrov said. | Mr. Lavrov welcomed Mr. Poroshenko’s statements, saying that he was eager to engage with Moscow, but he rejected the idea that the United States and Europe needed to be involved. “We don’t need intermediaries,” Mr. Lavrov said. |
| Ukraine’s deposed president, Viktor F. Yanukovych, issued a statement from his Russian exile saying that the new government in Kiev should withdraw all government troops from southeastern Ukraine to end the standoff and restore peace.. | Ukraine’s deposed president, Viktor F. Yanukovych, issued a statement from his Russian exile saying that the new government in Kiev should withdraw all government troops from southeastern Ukraine to end the standoff and restore peace.. |
| Mr. Yanukovych, who set up shop in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don after he was forced from office by the uprising in Ukraine last February, said that he respected the election of Mr. Poroshenko, a former ally, as legitimate. | Mr. Yanukovych, who set up shop in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don after he was forced from office by the uprising in Ukraine last February, said that he respected the election of Mr. Poroshenko, a former ally, as legitimate. |
| “An early presidential election has taken place in Ukraine,” the statement said. “No matter what region has had what turnout and what choice has been made, I respect the choice made during such a difficult time for our Motherland.” | “An early presidential election has taken place in Ukraine,” the statement said. “No matter what region has had what turnout and what choice has been made, I respect the choice made during such a difficult time for our Motherland.” |
| Mr. Yanukovych said the main priority of the government should be “to stop the bloody war against their own people,” adding that “for the legitimacy of the elections and the legitimacy of the president himself, the engagement of the south-east of our country is essential.” | Mr. Yanukovych said the main priority of the government should be “to stop the bloody war against their own people,” adding that “for the legitimacy of the elections and the legitimacy of the president himself, the engagement of the south-east of our country is essential.” |
| Senator Ayotte, in an interview in Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, where she observed the vote on Sunday, said Mr. Poroshenko, the new president, had appealed for greater military and technical assistance in a private meeting with American officials. | Senator Ayotte, in an interview in Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, where she observed the vote on Sunday, said Mr. Poroshenko, the new president, had appealed for greater military and technical assistance in a private meeting with American officials. |
| Ms. Ayotte noted that President Obama and the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, had threatened additional sanctions if Russia interfered with Sunday’s election, and the senator said that efforts by pro-Russian armed separatists to block voting had crossed the line. | Ms. Ayotte noted that President Obama and the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, had threatened additional sanctions if Russia interfered with Sunday’s election, and the senator said that efforts by pro-Russian armed separatists to block voting had crossed the line. |
| “I think the so-called red line that the chancellor and the president had set in terms of interference was met in terms of what happened in Donetsk and Lugansk,” Ms. Ayotte said, adding that she held President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia responsible. | “I think the so-called red line that the chancellor and the president had set in terms of interference was met in terms of what happened in Donetsk and Lugansk,” Ms. Ayotte said, adding that she held President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia responsible. |
| “We know this was Russia,” Ms. Ayotte said. “Putin has control there. He could stop it if he really put his foot down.” She added, “We don’t know what Putin is going to do next. At this point, he has pretty much gotten away with it.” | “We know this was Russia,” Ms. Ayotte said. “Putin has control there. He could stop it if he really put his foot down.” She added, “We don’t know what Putin is going to do next. At this point, he has pretty much gotten away with it.” |
| Ms. Ayotte and other Republicans, including Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee, the party’s senior member on the Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, have criticized the administration’s response to Russia as too weak and have put forward legislation to impose tougher sanctions. | Ms. Ayotte and other Republicans, including Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee, the party’s senior member on the Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, have criticized the administration’s response to Russia as too weak and have put forward legislation to impose tougher sanctions. |
| The Obama administration and European allies have imposed limited sanctions in response to the invasion and annexation of Crimea, including penalties against some of Mr. Putin’s closest advisers and associate in the Russian business world. But the effort to punish Russia economically seemed minuscule last week compared to a 30-year deal worth an estimated $400 billion that China signed last week to buy Russian natural gas. | The Obama administration and European allies have imposed limited sanctions in response to the invasion and annexation of Crimea, including penalties against some of Mr. Putin’s closest advisers and associate in the Russian business world. But the effort to punish Russia economically seemed minuscule last week compared to a 30-year deal worth an estimated $400 billion that China signed last week to buy Russian natural gas. |
| In addition to tougher sanctions, Republicans critical of the Obama administration’s Russia policy have called for greater military and security assistance for Ukraine. Ms. Ayotte said that Mr. Poroshenko, who was elected president on Sunday in a landslide, had said in a private meeting with United States officials that the help was urgently needed. | In addition to tougher sanctions, Republicans critical of the Obama administration’s Russia policy have called for greater military and security assistance for Ukraine. Ms. Ayotte said that Mr. Poroshenko, who was elected president on Sunday in a landslide, had said in a private meeting with United States officials that the help was urgently needed. |
| “He wants to unify the east, he wants to reach out and have conversations,” Ms. Ayotte said. “He recognizes the barrier to that is the security situation and he would like us to push back against Putin.” | “He wants to unify the east, he wants to reach out and have conversations,” Ms. Ayotte said. “He recognizes the barrier to that is the security situation and he would like us to push back against Putin.” |
| Other officials visiting Ukraine to observe the elections included Senators Rob Portman, Republican of Ohio, and Ben Cardin, Democrat of Maryland, and the former secretary of state, Madeleine K. Albright. | Other officials visiting Ukraine to observe the elections included Senators Rob Portman, Republican of Ohio, and Ben Cardin, Democrat of Maryland, and the former secretary of state, Madeleine K. Albright. |
| Mr. Cardin said he was particularly moved after touring the area around Independence Square in Kiev, the protest site where scores of demonstrators were killed in clashes with riot police in February. “You can’t help but be struck by the amount of pain inflicted on the Ukrainian people,” Mr. Cardin said at a news conference. | Mr. Cardin said he was particularly moved after touring the area around Independence Square in Kiev, the protest site where scores of demonstrators were killed in clashes with riot police in February. “You can’t help but be struck by the amount of pain inflicted on the Ukrainian people,” Mr. Cardin said at a news conference. |