G7 nations agree on sanctions on Russia as tensions mount in Ukraine
Residents of Sevastopol and the Black Sea fleet sailors watch a televised call-in show with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sevastopol, Crimea. (Photo: AP)
Slavyansk: The Group of Seven rich countries have agreed to start slapping fresh sanctions on Moscow as early as Monday over the worsening Ukraine crisis amid Western fears of an imminent Russian invasion.
International tensions were mounting on Saturday over the situation in the ex-Soviet republic, where sporadic fighting between pro-Kremlin rebels and Ukrainian security forces flared this week.
Russian warplanes violated Ukraine's airspace several times on Thursday and Friday, the Pentagon said. Russia has also begun new drills on the border, where it has tens of thousands of troops massed.
A Western diplomat warned, “We no longer exclude a Russian military intervention in Ukraine in the coming days.”
The diplomatic source noted that Russia’s UN envoy, Vitaly Churkin, “has been recalled urg-ently to Moscow” for consultations. Ukraine’s Prime Minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, on Saturday cut short a trip to Rome after seeing Pope Francis, skipping a Sunday canonisation ceremony for popes John Paul II and John XXIII “because of the situation”.
Putin halts all talks with U.S.
As new US sanctions against Russia loom, the Kremlin has shut down—at least for now—intensive high level communications between top US and Russian officials.
Since the invasion of Crimea, President Vladimir Putin and President Barack Obama have had regular phone calls in an often half-hearted attempt to deescalate the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
US sends 600 troops to Lithuania amidst crisis
US troops arrived Saturday in Lithuania, part of a US contingent of 600 sent to the region to reassure Nato allies amid the escalating Ukraine crisis. Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite hailed the arrival of American forces as a “deterrence measure” in the region where alarm has risen over Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
“We know in this situation who our real friends are coming to help,” Ms Grybauskaite told reporters, after around 150 troops from the 173rd Airborne Brigade landed at the Siauliai air base.
“If any of our guests are injured, it would mean an open confrontation not with Lithuania but with the United States,” she added.
( Source : AFP )
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