Editor's Choice
Russia Warned That Any Attempt To Annex Crimea Will “Close The Door On Diplomacy”
The warning comes after warning shots were fired, and a team of international observers were refused entry to Crimea.
Members of the pro-Russia “new Crimean army” paraded in Simferopol on Saturday. Photo: AFP
John Kerry has warned Russia that any attempt to annex Crimea will ‘Close the door on diplomacy”. In a phone call to Sergei Lavrov Kerry urged restraint to avoid military escalation in the region.
The warning comes after warning shots were fired, and a team of international observers were refused entry to Crimea. It’s the third time observers from The Organisation for security and Co-operation in Europe, (OSCE) were turned away.
Crisis timeline
- 21 Nov 2013: President Viktor Yanukovych abandons deal on closer ties with EU in favour of closer co-operation with Russia
- December 2013: Pro-EU protesters occupy Kiev city hall and Independence Square
- 20 Feb: At least 88 people killed in 48 hours of bloodshed in Kiev
- 21 Feb: President Yanukovych signs compromise deal with opposition leaders
- 22 Feb: President Yanukovych flees Kiev. Parliament votes to remove him and sets elections for 25 May
- 27-28 Feb: Pro-Russian gunmen seize key buildings in Crimean capital Simferopol
- 1 March: Russian parliament approves President Vladimir Putin’s request to use Russian forces in Ukraine
- 6 March: Crimea’s parliament asks to join Russia and sets referendum for 16 March (source)
There has been no statement on what the west plans to do if Russia does attempt to annex Crimea from the Ukraine. Russia continues to build up it’s forces in the area with dozens of military trucks and heavily armed soldiers arriving at a military airfield north of Simferopol on Saturday.
Delivered by The Daily Sheeple
We encourage you to share and republish our reports, analyses, breaking news and videos (Click for details).
Contributed by of The Daily Sheeple.