Posts
Rice: Russian military interference in Ukraine would
be 'grave mistake'
be 'grave mistake'
By
Ashley Fantz, CNN
Ashley Fantz, CNN
February
24, 2014 -- Updated 0737 GMT (1537 HKT)
http://edition.cnn.com/2014/02/23/world/europe/ukraine-us-leaders/index.html?hpt=ieu_c224, 2014 -- Updated 0737 GMT (1537 HKT)
(CNN) -- U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice warned on
Sunday that it "would be a grave mistake" if Russian President
Vladimir Putin intervened militarily in the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
Rice, who spoke on NBC's "Meet the Press,"
was among U.S. leaders saying they want to see a unity coalition government in
the country after President Viktor Yanukovych fled Kiev, the capital, and a
unanimous vote in Parliament removed him from power.
was among U.S. leaders saying they want to see a unity coalition government in
the country after President Viktor Yanukovych fled Kiev, the capital, and a
unanimous vote in Parliament removed him from power.
"The United States is on the side of the Ukrainian
people," Rice said. The people expressed themselves peacefully, she said,
and Yanukovych "turned on" the people by using violence against them.
people," Rice said. The people expressed themselves peacefully, she said,
and Yanukovych "turned on" the people by using violence against them.
A former Soviet republic closely allied with Russia,
Ukraine is home to many people who speak Russian and identify with Russia.
Ukraine is home to many people who speak Russian and identify with Russia.
David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker, recently
returned from Russia and reported from the country for many years. On "Fareed
Zakaria GPS" on Sunday, Remnick said that Putin considers Ukraine and
Russia "linked by blood."
returned from Russia and reported from the country for many years. On "Fareed
Zakaria GPS" on Sunday, Remnick said that Putin considers Ukraine and
Russia "linked by blood."
"If you look through Putin's eyes, specifically,
this is his area of interest. It's not the United States and even not
Europe," Remnick said. "This is really complicated for us."
this is his area of interest. It's not the United States and even not
Europe," Remnick said. "This is really complicated for us."
Rice said the U.S. wants to see constitutional reform,
democratic elections and a unity government, and President Barack Obama
stressed that to Putin in a recent conversation.
democratic elections and a unity government, and President Barack Obama
stressed that to Putin in a recent conversation.
"Putin was in agreement" at that time, Rice
said.
said.
Republican Sen. John McCain appeared on CBS's
"Face the Nation" with strong words for Putin.
"Face the Nation" with strong words for Putin.
A partition of Ukraine would "not be
acceptable," McCain said.
acceptable," McCain said.
"The Ukrainian people will determine their own
future. They want to be Western. ... They do not want to be Eastern," he
said.
future. They want to be Western. ... They do not want to be Eastern," he
said.
If he were Putin, he said, he would be nervous about
the protest movement happening in Ukraine.
the protest movement happening in Ukraine.
Appearing on "Fox News Sunday," Sen. Dick
Durbin, D-Illinois, said he spoke with former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko
on Saturday just after she was released from prison following a unanimous vote
in Parliament.
Durbin, D-Illinois, said he spoke with former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko
on Saturday just after she was released from prison following a unanimous vote
in Parliament.
Durbin said she assured him that she's "looking
for a peaceful resolution to the problems in Ukraine, to follow the
constitution and the law."
for a peaceful resolution to the problems in Ukraine, to follow the
constitution and the law."
Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-New Hampshire, said there must be
focus on forming a unity government. "Yanukovych needs to step aside, and
I will say this: Now that the Olympics are over, we need to watch the behavior
of the Russians," she said.
focus on forming a unity government. "Yanukovych needs to step aside, and
I will say this: Now that the Olympics are over, we need to watch the behavior
of the Russians," she said.
Obama "needs to up his game and send a clear,
unequivocal, public message to Putin not to interfere in what is happening in
Ukraine," Ayotte said, "to let the Ukrainian people determine their
future, to ensure that there is no interference in their sovereignty."
unequivocal, public message to Putin not to interfere in what is happening in
Ukraine," Ayotte said, "to let the Ukrainian people determine their
future, to ensure that there is no interference in their sovereignty."
Durbin agreed that more pressure should be placed on
Putin.
Putin.
"We have to combine our efforts with the European
Union to help Ukraine move forward in a peaceful democratic way. We have to put
the pressure on Putin to stop his efforts to undermine this natural evolution
towards democracy," Durbin said, adding that he thinks Yanukovych
"has always been a puppet of Moscow."
Union to help Ukraine move forward in a peaceful democratic way. We have to put
the pressure on Putin to stop his efforts to undermine this natural evolution
towards democracy," Durbin said, adding that he thinks Yanukovych
"has always been a puppet of Moscow."
COMMENT:
Timely
Warning to Russia to refrain from interfering with Ukraine affairs seems to have
landed in deaf ears when it is reported that Russia has already beefing up war
ships and army around Ukraine to instill fear in the minds of the Ukrainians
and boosting the moral of the Russian ethnic
people in Ukrainians.
Analysts
have alerted that the intent of the Russian government activities signals the
interfering with Ukrainians parliamentary activities that delayed the election
date and nomination of Ministers. They said that strict sustained monitoring is a
must till the issues are successfully accomplished in all respect.
No comments:
Post a Comment