A monument to the Soviet Red Army that fought against the Nazi invasion of the Ukraine was painted in the colors of the fascists inside the country who overthrew the government. The uprising and coup is supported by United States imperialism., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
Russian Defense Ministry dismisses Ukraine ultimatum reports as ‘total nonsense’
Published March 03, 2014 17:01
Rt.com
Media reports about an alleged Russian ultimatum made to the Ukrainian armed forces in Crimea are “total nonsense,” a spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry said.
He said that no ultimatum had been made to the Ukrainian forces, Interfax reports.
“We have become accustomed to the daily accusations by the Ukrainian media of carrying out some sort of military actions against our Ukrainian colleagues," Russian Black Sea Fleet representative said, adding that “those who want to pit us against each other in the Crimea won’t succeed.”
“There’s nothing new about such disinformation. It’s clear who is behind this. Those ‘puppeteers’ have been unable to come up with anything new since Yugoslavia, Iraq and Syria,” he added.
Also, a source in the Russian Defense Ministry told RT that they are unaware of any Russian ultimatum toward the Ukrainian forces in Crimea.
The source revealed that they had only heard about the alleged ultimatum from a report by Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
“We’re interested in keeping friendly relations with the people of Ukraine and in preserving stability,” the source told RT.
The Russian Foreign Ministry also stressed that the Black Sea Fleet units in the Crimea aren’t interfering into the internal events of Ukrainian politics.
The self-deŃlared Ukrainian Defense Ministry claimed earlier Monday that the Russian Black Sea Fleet had delivered an ultimatum to the Ukrainian forces remaining on the Crimean peninsula.
“If they won’t give up by 05:00 local time (03:00 GMT) a full-scale assault on the units of Ukrainian military in Crimea will begin,” an unnamed source in the ministry told Interfax-Ukraine.
On Saturday, Russia’s Federation Council unanimously approved President Vladimir Putin’s request to send Russian military forces in Ukraine to ensure peace and order in the region “until the socio-political situation in the country is stabilized.”
However, the final say about sending in the troops lies with Putin, who hasn’t yet made such a decision.
The authorities in Crimea requested Moscow’s assistance after the new self-proclaimed government in Kiev introduced a law abolishing the use of languages other than Ukrainian in official circumstances in the country.
More than half the Crimean population are Russian and use only this language for their communication. The residents have announced they are going to hold a referendum on March 30 to determine the fate of the Ukrainian autonomous region.
Crimean authorities denounced the self-proclaimed government in Kiev and declared that all Ukrainian law enforcement and military deployed in the peninsula must take orders from them. The majority of troops in Crimea switched sides in favor of the local authorities.
Feeling a threat from the new central government of questionable legitimacy, a number of regions stood up against it.
Thousands of people across eastern and southern Ukraine are flooding the streets of major cities, urging local authorities to disobey Kiev’s orders. The local population is calling the government in Kiev illegitimate and demanding that their local governments refuse to take orders from it.
Yanukovich sent letter to Putin asking for Russian military presence in Ukraine
Published March 03, 2014 21:31
Rt.com
Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin says ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich has sent a letter to Putin asking him to use military force in Ukraine to restore law and order.
"Under the influence of Western countries, there are open acts of terror and violence," Churkin quoted the letter from Yanukovich to Putin in the third emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
"People are being persecuted for language and political reasons," Churkin read. ”So in this regard I would call on the President of Russia, Mr. Putin, asking him to use the armed forces of the Russian Federation to establish legitimacy, peace, law and order, stability and defending the people of Ukraine."
After reading the letter, Churkin held up a copy of the original letter from Yanukovich to Putin for council members to look at.
Churkin also told the UN Security Council that it is about protecting the rights of the Russian-speaking population there.
Russia considers it necessary to ensure that the agreement between Viktor Yanukovich and the opposition on the crisis in Ukraine is fulfilled, Churkin told the UNSC.
Churkin said it is essential that the obligations set forth in the agreement on February 21 be fulfilled, such as beginning the process of constitutional reform with full participation and contributions from all regions of Ukraine for subsequent approval in a national referendum, and the formation of a legitimate government of national unity in the interests of all political forces and regions.
Churkin clarified at the UNSC meeting that Russia’s goal is not to return ousted leader Viktor Yanukovich to power, but acknowledged that he is still the legitimate president of Ukraine and that his fate should be decided by the people of Ukraine.
He stressed the need to "rein in the radicals" operating in Ukraine and asked Ukrainian opposition leaders to dissociate themselves from them.
Churkin added that new information is emerging about more provocations in the works against the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Ukraine.
People’s self-defense units were formed in a situation where threats and forceful actions of ultra-nationalists puts at risk the lives of Russian citizens and the Russian-speaking population. The units already managed to prevent the capture of administrative buildings and the smuggling of large amounts of firearms and explosives by radicals, Churkin explained.
US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power followed Churkin’s comments in front of the UN Security Council, saying that Russia's actions regarding Ukraine are a “violation of international law.”
"It is a fact that today Russian jets entered Ukrainian airspace," Power said. "Russia military action is a violation of international law. Russian military bases in Ukraine are secure. Russian mobilization is a response to an imaginary threat. Military action can not be justified on the basis of threats that haven't been made or aren't being carried out. Russia needs to engage directly with the government of Ukraine."
Powers appealed for human rights monitors to be sent to Ukraine, while calling on Russia to “immediately pull back” deployed forces.
"Russia has every right to wish events had turned out differently. It doesn't have the right to express that using military force," Power said.
Ukraine Ambassador to the United Nations Yuriy Sergeyev said his country has “not received a compelling answer” on Russia’s stated reasons for moves into Crimea.
“You call it a coup d'etat. We call it a revolution of dignity,” Sergeyev said, speaking in the direction of Russia’s Churkin.
"We [Ukraine] have a different understanding of human rights than you [Russia],” Sergeyev added.
Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said China condemns the recent extremist violence in Ukraine.
“We urge all sides to resolve differences through legal framework” and to protect rights of all people, Jieyi said.
The Ukrainian parliament in Kiev in its first days disturbed eastern and southern regions of Ukraine, where many Russian speakers live, by voting to repeal a law which gave regional status to the Russian language.
Seeing this as part of an anti-Russian discriminatory stance of the government, some of the regions denounced Kiev and said they would not be taking orders from the new regime.
Authorities in Crimea requested Moscow’s assistance after parliament voted to repeal the law.
More than half of the Crimean population are Russian and use only the Russian language for their communication. The residents have announced they will hold a referendum on March 30 to determine the fate of the Ukrainian autonomous region.
Crimean authorities denounced the self-proclaimed government in Kiev and declared that all Ukrainian law enforcement and military deployed in the peninsula must take orders from them. The majority of troops in Crimea switched sides in favor of local authorities.
In the wake of the escalation, the self-imposed president of Ukraine, Aleksandr Turchinov, spoke out against the language vote, stating on Monday evening that he will not sign the decision to repeal the language law. Instead, he will wait until a working group drafts a new law that will allow the use of all languages in Ukraine.
In the 1990s, the status of Sevastopol became the subject of endless debates between Russia and Ukraine. Following negotiations, the city and surrounding territories were granted a special “state significance” status within the Ukrainian state, and some of the naval facilities were leased to Russia for its Black Sea Fleet until at least 2047. According to the agreement, Russia can have up to 25,000 personnel in Crimea, according to Churkin.
Feeling a threat from the self-appointed government, a number of regions have stood up against it. Thousands of people across eastern and southern Ukraine are flooding the streets of major cities, urging local authorities to disobey Kiev’s orders. The local population has deemed the government in Kiev illegitimate, demanding that their local governments refuse to take orders from it.
Thousands rally in Russia’s southwest to support Russian speakers in Ukraine
Published March 04, 2014 02:19
Rt.com
Thousands gathered in the Russian cities of Novocherkassk, Bryansk, and Belgorod to support the Russian-speaking population in Ukraine. “We don’t abandon our people,” said banners held by those who sympathized with residents of the crisis-torn country.
Nearly 7,500 people took part in a demonstration in the southern city of Novocherkassk, one of the biggest industrial centers of Rostov region and capital of the Cossacks.
People from the entire Rostov region gathered in the center of the city, carrying Russian flags and wearing black and orange ribbons – a Russian symbol of the victory in World War II. The demonstrators held banners saying, “No to extremism,” and “Peace for Ukraine,” along with “Russia and Ukraine: the same roots, the same faith.”
What is currently happening in Ukraine can hardly be called “democratic reorganizations,” said Anatoly Nosyrev, world champion in kickboxing and Novocherkassk resident.
Rallies in the southern city of Bryansk, a center of steel and manufacturing, attracted over 5,000 people, local police told ITAR-TASS.
Among those present to support Ukraine were World War II veterans, activists of public organizations, students, and teachers.
“I sympathize with Ukrainian people, especially with the citizens of Crimea and Sevastopol,” said Vitaly Volvich, a citizen of Bryansk.
The rally, held under the slogan, 'We don’t abandon our people,' started in the city’s center square.
“By this demonstration, we give hope to all the citizens of Crimea that Russia doesn’t abandon them. We are ready to help them,” said Igor Dorokhov, a former officer who served in Ukraine.
Some of the city's deputies also called upon the local people to support the rally, which was deemed a "popular gathering for brotherly people."
“The nationalism is raising in the Western parts of Ukraine,” said Nikolay Dashunin, the head of administration of one of Bryansk’s districts. “We gathered here to support Russian-speaking citizens of Crimea and Ukraine in general.”
Rallies and other actions in support of the Russian-speaking population of Ukraine also attracted nearly 5,000 people in the southern city of Belgorod, the capital of the region which borders Ukraine.
The future of Ukraine should be determined by its citizens, not separate radicals, said the participants of the rally.
“Now it is very important to let Ukrainian nation make its own decisions,” said Viktor Ovchinnikov, deputy head of Public Chamber of the Belgorod Region, adding that the Ukrainian people should feel the support of Russians.
Only 80 kilometers separate Belgorod from its neighbor, the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkov. During World War II, their citizens fought against Nazi invasion together under the flags of the USSR.
“Veterans of both Belgorod and Kharkov have long life traditions,” said city veterans. “We shouldn’t leave them [people of Kharkov] in trouble.”
On Sunday, thousands in Moscow, St Petersburg, and the southern city of Krasnodar rallied in support of the Russian-speaking population of Ukraine. Around 27,000 people – including members of patriotic youth groups and veterans’ organizations – took part in the Moscow march, held under the slogan, 'We don’t abandon our people.'
A demonstration in St. Petersburg attracted some 15,000 people. The rally was organized as a gesture of approval of the decision of the Russian government, which allowed the use of Russian troops to protect Russian citizens and ethnic Russians living in Ukraine from possible violence.
Authorities in Crimea requested Moscow’s assistance after the new self-proclaimed government in Kiev introduced a law abolishing the use of languages other than Ukrainian in official circumstances.
Feeling a threat from the self-appointed government, a number of regions have stood up against it. Thousands of people across eastern and southern Ukraine are flooding the streets of major cities, urging local authorities to disobey Kiev’s orders. The local population has deemed the government in Kiev illegitimate, demanding that their local governments refuse to take orders from it.
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