Tag: arseniy yatsenyuk
Obama Backs Interim Ukraine Prime Minister, Rebukes Putin

Obama Backs Interim Ukraine Prime Minister, Rebukes Putin

Washington (AFP) – President Barack Obama told Ukraine’s Prime Minister on Wednesday that the United States would stand by his country’s defense of its sovereignty, conferring symbolic legitimacy on the Kiev government in a direct rebuke to Russia.

Obama also said after meeting interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk that he hoped U.S. diplomacy with Moscow over the next few days could cause a “rethinking” of plans for a secession referendum in Crimea on Sunday.

Obama said that Russia had infringed international law with its incursion into Ukraine and warned that if President Vladimir Putin did not change course, he would face “costs” from the United States and the international community, which has already threatened economic sanctions.

Obama told Yatsenyuk in the Oval Office — in a visit intended to confer symbolic legitimacy on the Kiev government — that he had been impressed by the courage of the people of Ukraine during the ouster of president Viktor Yanukovych and the political turmoil that followed.

“We have been very clear that we consider the Russian incursion into Crimea… to be a violation of international law,” Obama said.

“We have been very firm in saying that we will stand with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people in ensuring that territorial integrity and sovereignty is maintained,” Obama said.

Yatsenyuk told reporters in the Oval Office that Ukraine would “never surrender” in its fight for territorial integrity, but also that it wanted to be a good partner to Russia.

Obama added that the United States would not recognize the results of the referendum in Crimea on joining Russia.

He said the vote was a “patched-together” exercise but hinted that he hoped talks between Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov later this week in London could change the situation.

“My hope is that as a consequence of diplomatic efforts over the next several days that there will be a rethinking of the process that has been put forward.”

AFP Photo/Saul Loeb

Obama To Meet Ukrainian PM At White House

Obama To Meet Ukrainian PM At White House

Washington (AFP) – President Barack Obama will meet in Washington this week with Ukraine’s interim prime minister, in a show of support amid a tense stand-off with Russia over control of Crimea.

Obama will host crisis talks with Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk on Wednesday, U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser Tony Blinken said, confirming earlier reports.

“He has invited the Ukrainian Prime Minister to come to the White House on Wednesday to further demonstrate… support,” Blinken told NBC television’s Meet the Press program.

A White House statement on Sunday said the visit “will highlight the strong support of the United States for the people of Ukraine, who have demonstrated inspiring courage and resilience through recent times of crisis.”

The two leaders “will discuss how to find a peaceful resolution to Russia’s ongoing military intervention in Crimea that would respect Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the White House said.

“They will also discuss support the international community can provide to help Ukraine confront its economic challenges, and the importance of uniting Ukraine and working to fulfill the aspirations of the Ukrainian people as they prepare for May presidential elections.”

Yatsenyuk had earlier announced in Kiev that he would travel to the United States, but gave no details of planned meetings.

Blinken said the U.S. leader has been rallying world support for the Kiev’s beleaguered fledgling administration and against Russia’s incursion into the Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula.

“We’ve seen the president put together a major international support package. In terms of isolating Russia, what we’ve seen as a result of the mobilized support is the financial markets in Russia have hit lows, the ruble has hit a low, investors are wondering whether to get involved in Russia because of the instability,” Blinken said.

“All of that is exacting a real cost and a real consequence.”

He added: “The president has made clear that going forward in coordination with our partners and allies we have in place a mechanism with sanctions to raise the cost significantly.

“But this is really a choice for the Russians to make. They have to decide whether they want to resolve the diplomatically or whether they want to face growing isolation, growing economic cost.”

Photo: Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT