Photograph by Tech. Sgt. Erik Gudmundson/US Air Force
Ukraine, the EU, and the US have condemned the move by Crimean MPs to announce a referendum on the region leaving Ukraine and joining Russia, as tensions remain high.
The Crimean regional government had set a date of 16 March for the referendum vote, but it has been dismissed as illegitimate and unconstitutional by Kiev, and hardened the EU stance against the Russian intervention.
EU ministers meeting in Brussels have also begun to support US threats of repercussions, describing “serious consequences” if Russia did not de-escalate the situation and begin to withdraw their troops from Crimea where they currently have de facto control. These measures could include “travel bans, asset freezes and the cancellation of the EU-Russia summit” said the leaders in a joint statement.
After the EU meeting, prime minister David Cameron made a speech in which he said:
“We know from our history that turning a blind eye when nations are trampled over and their independence trashed stores up far greater problems in the long run.
So we must stand up to aggression, uphold international law and support people who want a free, European future.
We need to de-escalate the situation. We must be clear with the Russians about their actions. And we must back the Ukrainian people.”
US President Barack Obama has praised the “international unity” after the EU toughened their stance against Russia, with the US already having imposed visa restrictions on a number of unnamed Ukrainian and Russian officials.
The US has also sent 12 F-16 fighter jets to Poland to begin a military training exercise, with Russia performing major military exercises within 300 miles of the Ukrainian border.
