Troops to bases; warning shots in Crimea: Putin
Sevastopol (Ukraine): Vladimir Putin ordered tens of thousands of Russian troops participating in military exercises near Ukraine’s border to return to their bases as US Secretary of State John Kerry was on his way to Kiev. Tensions remained high in the strategic Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea with troops loyal to Moscow fired warning shots at protesting Ukrainian soldiers.
‘Russia has right to use
force in Ukraine’
Moscow: Accusing the West of encouraging an “unconstitutional coup” in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Moscow reserves the right to use its military to protect Russians there but voiced hope it won’t need to do so.
The Russian leader’s first comments on Ukraine since its fugitive President fled to Russia came as US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Kiev to meet with Ukraine’s new Government.
EU warns to impose ‘targeted sanctions’ against Russia
Berlin: The European Union has threatened to impose a set of “targeted sanctions” against Russia if it does not take steps to de-escalate the crisis sparked by its military build up on the Crimean peninsula of Ukraine.
Russian warships cross Bosphorus, en route to Ukraine
Istanbul: Two Russian warships crossed Turkey’s Bosphorus Strait and headed towards the Black Sea en route to Ukraine, which is engaged in a military stand-off with Moscow, media reported on Tuesday.
Russia on ‘wrong side of history’: Obama on Ukraine
Washington: US President Barack Obama has said Russia was on the “wrong side of history” and its invasion in Ukraine was an attack on sovereignty of a nation, warning that he was considering economic and diplomatic options to punish Moscow if it didn’t reverse
course quickly.
NATO, Russia to have talks over Ukraine tomorrow
Brussels: The NATO alliance on Tuesday accused Russia of continued violations of its international commitments and Ukraine’s sovereignty and said it will directly confront Moscow with the allegations during a
special meeting.
US prepares US $1 billion aid package for troubled Ukraine
Kiev: Secretary of State John Kerry flew to Kiev on Tuesday to show US support for
the fledgling Ukraine Government, and the Obama administration announced with his arrival a USD 1 billion energy subsidy
package.
As Kerry arrived, the White House announced the package of energy aid, along with training for financial and election institutions and
anti-corruption efforts.