US, France warn of possible new measures against Russia
Iran Press TV
Sat Mar 8, 2014 9:35PM GMT
The United States and France have warned of possible new measures against Russia if Moscow fails to make progress on defusing the crisis in Ukraine.
US President Barack Obama discussed the escalating Ukraine crisis in a telephone call with French President Francois Hollande on Saturday.
The two leaders insisted on the 'need for Russia to withdraw forces sent to Crimea since the end of February and to do everything to allow the deployment of international observers,' the French presidency said in a statement.
'If there's a lack progress in this direction, new measures will be taken which would noticeably affect relations between the international community and Russia, which is in no-one's interest,' it said.
On Thursday, the parliament of Crimea, an autonomous republic of Ukraine, voted to split from Ukraine and become part of Russia, calling a referendum in 10 days to validate its decision.
'In the current grave circumstances,' Hollande and Obama 'stressed the importance for Russia to agree rapidly to the formation of a contact group allowing for Ukraine and Russia to engage in dialogue, with a view to favoring a peaceful exit to the crisis and restoring fully Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity,' the statement said.
'They recalled the absence of any legal basis to the planned referendum in Crimea on March 16,' the presidency said.
Meanwhile, the White House said later in the day that Obama discussed the crisis in phone calls with British Prime Minister David Cameron and Italian leader Matteo Renzi.
"The leaders reiterated their grave concern over Russia's clear violation of international law and reaffirmed their support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the White House said in a statement.
Russia has already said it will not capitulate to the Western countries' language of threats and sanctions over Ukraine.
Moscow has also warned Washington that any sanctions against Russia would backfire.
Washington has sent US fighter jets to allied countries located near Ukraine, imposed visa restrictions on Russians, ordered sanctions on individuals it said were involved in the Russian military intervention in Ukraine, and condemned the proposed referendum in Crimea to break away from Ukraine and join Russia.
The Pentagon has suspended military ties with Russia, including joint maneuvers and port visits.
Political crisis erupted in Ukraine in November 2013 after the country's ousted president, Viktor Yanukovych, refrained from signing the Association Agreement with the European Union in favor of closer ties with Russia.
On February 23, the Ukrainian parliament ousted Yanukovych and named anti-Kremlin Oleksandr Turchynov, the legislature's newly-elected speaker, as interim president.
GJH/AGB
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