The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the United States is consulting with its European partners on potential costs that might be imposed on Russia for any Ukraine intervention.
US officials told Reuters that Washington has seen indications of troop movements from and into Ukraine's Crimea region on Friday, but their numbers are unclear, as are the intentions of those movements.
The senior US official said the US response could also include withholding deeper trade and commerce ties that Moscow is seeking.
http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/US-official-Obama-might-skip-Sochi-G8-summit-if-Russia-intervenes-in-Ukraine-343902
1/3/14
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UN Security Council to meet to discuss situation in Ukraine
Ukraine crisis: Obama warns Russia against intervention...
Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 2/28/2014.-James S. Brady Press Briefing Room...
- Biden reaffirms US support for Ukraine's new government
US Vice President Joe Biden on Friday reaffirmed his country's "strong" support for Ukraine's new government, the White House said.
During his second telephone conversation with newly appointed Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk in two days, Biden also reiterated US commitment to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and democratic future of Ukraine, according to a White House statement.
In addition, the vice president commended the Ukrainian government for its continued restraint.
Yatsenyuk was quoted as emphasizing that the new government would uphold its international obligations and serve all the people of Ukraine.
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/845489.shtml#.UxFzxc5qlqA
1/3/14
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- Obama warns against military intervention in Ukraine
Any violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity would be "deeply destabilizing," Obama said in a hastily arranged speech at the White House, adding that it would violate Russia's commitment to respect Ukraine's borders and would invite global condemnation.
"The United States will stand with the international community in affirming that there will be costs for any military intervention in Ukraine," Obama added.
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/845478.shtml#.UxFzys5qlqA
1/3/14
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Moscow opposes externally imposed mediation in Crimea – Russia's UN envoy...
ReplyDeleteRussia’s Permanent Representative at the UN, Vitaly Churkin, said after an informal meeting of the Security Council that Russia is against an imposed mediation internded to settle the situation in the Crimea.
Earlier, US Permanent Representative at the UN, Samantha Power, told journalists that Washington suggested an intermediary mission to as a solution to growing problems around the Crimea.
This should be contemplated and scrutinized, Churkin said. The Crimean authorities should be asked what they think of such a mission. In any case, we are against an imposed mediation, Churkin stressed.
When answering journalists’ questions about the presence of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet in the Crimea, Churkin said that Russia operates in the Crimea according to an agreement on the deployment of the Black Sea Fleet that was signed with Ukraine.
Russia's UN envoy also pointed to the agreement of 21 February as the key to resolving the Ukraine crisis.
“The best way to resolve the crisis is to look hard” at the agreement signed one week ago, said Vitaly Churkin, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations, in a news conference following the emergency security council meeting.
When asked about Russia’s willingness to intervene militarily, Churkin laughed.
“Really, even the question is aggravating!” he said................http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_03_01/Moscow-is-against-externally-imposed-mediation-in-Ukraines-Crimea-Russias-UN-envoy-2669/
1/3/14
Russian transport authority disclaims information on Crimea’s blocked air space...
ReplyDelete"I have learned about the blocked air space from the media", deputy minister admitted.
Russia’s ministry of transport has not received official notifications about blocked air space above Crimea.
“I, like you, have learned the information about the blocked air space (from the media),” deputy minister Valery Okulov said on the margins of the economic forum.
Minister of transport Maxim Sokolov is also unaware of any notifications about the blocked air space.
“No,” was his short answer to a question from Itar-Tass whether the ministry had received any notifications of the kind.
http://en.itar-tass.com/world/721552?utm_medium=rss20
1/3/14
Gazprom Mulls Cancelling Ukraine Gas Discount Over Debt....
ReplyDeleteMOSCOW, March 1 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s state-run energy giant Gazprom said Saturday that Ukraine is $1.55 billion in arrears on payments for natural gas deliveries, which the company said may force it to cancel a discount on the fuel agreed in December.
Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov told RIA Novosti that although relations with Ukraine remained good and that gas for onward delivery was being transited as required, payments still needed to be respected.
“What is owed is huge, not just for last year, but also debts for current deliveries,” he said, noting that Russia has issued a $3 billion line of credit for the express purpose of covering its gas debts.
Kupriyanov said “agreements on discounts mandated full and timely payment for deliveries.”
Ukraine’s national oil and gas company Naftogaz Ukrainy had as of February 14 paid Gazprom $1.28 billion for gas delivered last year and asked to postpone payment of what remained until April 15.
Gazprom said in early February that Ukrainian debt for 2013 deliveries stood at $2.63 billion, meaning that Naftogaz had around $1.35 billion still to pay at the middle of the month...............http://en.ria.ru/world/20140301/187990679/Gazprom-Mulls-Cancelling-Ukraine-Gas-Discount-Over-Debt.html
1/3/14
Rogozin: Russian-Ukrainian industrial group suspended until Ukraine forms new government...
ReplyDeleteEarlier, Rogozin planned to hold the group’s meeting on February 20.
The Russian-Ukrainian industrial group has suspended its activity until a new government has been formed in Ukraine, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said in his microblog in Twitter.
“The operation of the Russian-Ukrainian high level industrial group has been paused until a legitimate government is formed in Kiev,” Rogozin said.
Earlier, Rogozin planned to hold the group’s meeting on February 20. In the wake of the latest developments in Ukraine the visit was postponed indefinitely.
http://en.itar-tass.com/russia/721547
1/3/14
Dvorkovich: Russia is not planning to limit import from Ukraine...
DeleteRussia is not planning to limit artificially import from Ukraine, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said in an interview with the Russia-24 television broadcaster.
“We do not have special plans,” he said. “Should there be claims regarding quality, then we shall undertake certain measures.”
Those measures “will not have political reasons,” he added.
http://en.itar-tass.com/economy/721557
1/3/14
Crimean PM puts all law enforcement agencies under his personal control...
ReplyDeleteSergey Aksenov, the prime minister of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, has announced his decision to temporarily put all security and law enforcement agencies in the republic under his own control.
"As the chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, exercising the powers delegated to me by the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, I make the decision to temporarily put the armed units and groups of the Interior Ministry, the Security Service, the armed forces, the Emergency Situations Ministry, the fleet, the Tax Service, and the border guards under my direct control. All commanders shall follow only my orders and instructions, and I ask those who disagree to retire from service," Aksenov said in a statement Interfax obtained from Crimean Supreme Council secretariat chief Olha Sonnikova.................http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_03_01/Crimean-PM-puts-all-law-enforcement-agencies-under-his-personal-control-1185/
1/3/14
Russia will not disregard Crimean PM's request for help - Kremlin...
DeleteRussia will not disregard Crimean Prime Minister Sergey Aksenov's request addressed to President Vladimir Putin on providing assistance in maintaining peace and accord in Crimea, a Kremlin source told Interfax.
Voice of Russia, Interfax
1/3/14
Украина может не сохранить скидку на газ из-за долга и уровня оплаты...
ReplyDeleteНа данный момент просроченная задолженность Украины за газ составляет 1 миллиард 549 миллионов долларов. Это задолженность не только за прошлый год, но и текущие поставки. При этом ранее Россия предоставила Украине кредит в размере 3 миллиарда долларов как раз под погашение газовых долгов.
..........."По-видимому, с такой оплатой за газ и исполнением своих обязательств Украина может не сохранить действующую сейчас скидку на газ. Договоренности о скидке предусматривали полную и своевременную оплату поставок", — заявил Куприянов......http://ria.ru/economy/20140301/997646692.html#ixzz2uhFhY8H4
1/3/14