The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ukraine crisis

  • Fresh summit to discuss Ukraine peace plan

    Leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France will meet in Belarus’s capital Minsk on Wednesday to discuss a peace plan for eastern Ukraine, Germany says.

    The BBC reports that it comes after leaders of the four countries discussed the ongoing conflict by telephone on Sunday.

    More than 5,000 people have been killed by fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russia rebels since April 2014.

    Western countries accuse Russia of arming rebels and sending troops to Ukraine – claims Russia denies.

    German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande have been leading efforts to establish a new peace plan.

    A previous ceasefire deal, signed in Minsk in September, failed after fighting resumed and the rebels seized more ground.

    Mr. Hollande said on Saturday the new plan being developed would include a demilitarised zone of 50-70km (31-44 miles) around the current front line.

  • Ukraine crisis: Obama orders ban on Crimea trade

    Ukraine crisis: Obama orders ban on Crimea trade

    United States President, Barack Obama, has ordered a ban on the export of goods, technology and services to Crimea.

    The executive order also imposes new sanctions on Russian and Ukrainian individuals and companies, the BBC reports.

    Obama said the move showed the U.S would never accept Russia’s annexation of Crimea in March.

    Similar measures agreed by the European Union earlier this week came into effect on Saturday. Canada announced its own sanction on Crimea on Friday.

    After the peninsula was annexed, pro-Russian separatists took control of parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of eastern Ukraine in April, and later declared independence.

    Some 4,700 people have died and another million have been displaced by fighting in recent months.

    On Friday, five Ukrainian soldiers were killed in fighting – the highest death toll since the latest attempt at a ceasefire began on December 9.

    Obama said in a statement: “The executive order is intended to provide clarity to U.S corporations doing business in the region and reaffirm that the United States will not accept Russia’s occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea.”

    In addition to the goods, technology and services ban, U.S individuals or companies cannot now buy any real estate or businesses in Crimea or fund Crimean firms.

  • Ukraine crisis: Putin ‘orders Russian troop pullback’

    Ukraine crisis: Putin ‘orders Russian troop pullback’

    Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered thousands of troops stationed near the Ukrainian border to return to their bases, Russian media report.

    Mr. Putin’s spokesman said about 17,600 soldiers on training exercises in the Rostov region would be pulled back.

    Russia has previously announced troop withdrawals that NATO and the United States said were not actually carried out.

    Russia has been accused of supplying troops and weapons to separatist rebels in east Ukraine – claims it denies.

    The BBC reports that the latest order comes ahead of a planned meeting between Mr. Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Friday.

    Ukrainian troops have been fighting pro-Russia rebels in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk since April, in a conflict that has killed more than 3,500 people.

    The two sides agreed a truce on September 5, but fighting has continued, especially in and around Donetsk.

    “[Mr.] Putin has ordered to start the returning of troops to regular station,” presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in quotes carried by Interfax and Ria Novosti news agencies.

    Mr. Peskov said this was because the period of training was completed.

     

  • Obama urges Putin to recall troops

    Obama urges Putin to recall troops

    United States President, Barack Obama, has told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that Russia has flouted international law by sending troops to Ukraine, the BBC reports.

    In a 90-minute telephone conversation, Mr. Obama urged the Russian leader to pull forces back to bases in Crimea.

    Mr. Putin responded by saying that Moscow reserves the right to protect its interests and those of Russian speakers in Ukraine, the Kremlin said.

    Meanwhile, Canada has recalled its ambassador to Moscow for consultations.

    Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, said he was also suspending Canada’s preparations for a G-8 summit in the Russian resort of Sochi in June.

    Ukraine said it has put its army on full combat alert after Russia’s parliament approved the deployment of troops.

    Acting President Olexander Turchynov said he had also stepped up security at key sites, including nuclear plants.

    Mr. Obama, the White House said, told Mr. Putin that the appropriate way to address any concerns “is peacefully through direct engagement” with the Ukrainian government and international mediating bodies.

    “President Obama expressed his deep concern over Russia’s clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the White House said.

    Mr. Obama told Mr. Putin his actions were a “breach of international law, including Russia’s obligations under the United Nations Charter, and of its 1997 military basing agreement with Ukraine,” a statement added.

     

  • Obama warns Russia over Ukraine

    Obama warns Russia over Ukraine

    United States President, Barack Obama, has warned Russia there will be “costs” for any military intervention in Ukraine.

    He said he was deeply concerned by reports of Russian military movements inside the country.

    The BBC reports that Ukraine’s acting president has accused Russia of deploying troops to Crimea and trying to provoke Kiev into “armed conflict.”

    Russia’s United Nations ambassador said any troop movements in Crimea were within an existing arrangement with Ukraine.

    Speaking from the White House, President Obama commended Ukraine’s interim government for its “restraint.”

    “Any violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity would be deeply destabilising, which is not in the interests of Ukraine, Russia or Europe,” he said.

    “It would represent a profound interference in matters that must be determined by the Ukrainian people. It would be a clear violation of Russia’s commitment to respect the independence and sovereignty and borders of Ukraine – and of international laws.”

    He added: “Just days after the world came to Russia for the Olympic games, it would invite the condemnation of nations around the world. And, indeed, the United States will stand with the international community in affirming that there will be costs for any military intervention in Ukraine.”