Russia's President Vladimir Putin accompanied by Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu walks to watch military exercises upon his arrival at the Kirillovsky firing ground in the Leningrad region, March 3, 2014.
Update 1:38pm
The Russian defense ministry called claims it had demanded the crews of two Ukrainian warships to surrender immediately “total nonsense” on Monday, according to state-run media.
Media reports had also suggested that four Russian navy ships were in position around the Ukrainian ships in Sevastopol’s harbor as they awaited a response to the surrender ultimatum. The BBC cited Ukrainian defense sources saying that Russia had set a 03:00 GMT (22:00 EST) deadline for Ukrainians soldiers in Crimea to surrender or be attacked “across Crimea.”
But a representative of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet told Russia Today those claims were unfounded. “We have become accustomed to the daily accusations by the Ukrainian media of carrying out some sort of military actions against our Ukrainian colleagues,” he said. “Those who want to pit us against each other in the Crimea won’t succeed.”
The State Department said it had not had independent confirmation of any ultimatum, but voiced concerns at a possible escalation. “Reports of an ultimatum, if true, constitute a dangerous escalation of the situation for which we would hold Russia directly responsible,” spokesperson Jen Psaki said.
Russian troops have encircled Ukrainian military bases throughout Crimea and are in a tense standoff that has thus far not resulted in bloodshed. But any Russian ultimatum could lead the nations to violence after Ukrainian authorities announced it would “never give up” Crimea.
The standoff began over the weekend after Russian President Vladimir Putin was given approval by his parliament to send troops to Ukraine, shortly after unidentified pro-Russia militants wearing fatigues first appeared around key locations in the Crimean region last week. Russian forces now control all Ukrainian border posts, as well as all military facilities.
Putin has claimed Russia needs to protect large ethnic Russian populations on the peninsula. But there have been no reports of organized hostility toward Russian speakers in Ukraine during the four-month upheaval that shook pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych from power.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused a global uproar as Western leaders scramble to respond to Putin’s aggression. President Obama and Congress are currently considering economic sanctions and other measures that would isolate Russia but have yet to set a clear path.
[AP]