US warns Russia as ‘disaster’ looms in Ukraine

Western powers are prepared “to go to the hilt” to isolate Russia for its military incursion into Ukraine, US Secretary of State John Kerry has warned.

Mr Kerry said Russian President Vladimir Putin should respect the democratic process through which the Ukrainian people ousted their pro-Russian president last month and assembled a new government.

His warning came as hundreds of unidentified gunmen surrounded an infantry base in the region and Russian troops consolidated their hold on Crimea, which is home to the country’s Black Sea Fleet.

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Ukraine has ordered a full military mobilisation in response to Russia’s build-up of its forces on the Crimean peninsula, with new Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk warning that the country is “on the brink of disaster”.

Russia’s “incredible act of aggression” amounts to “a stunning willful choice” by Mr Putin to invade another country on a “trumped-up pretext,” Mr Kerry said in a series of TV interviews.

He said he has spoken with foreign ministers from the Group of Eight countries and a few other nations, and “every single one of them are prepared to go to the hilt in order to isolate Russia” because of the invasion.

“They’re prepared to put sanctions in place. They’re prepared to isolate Russia economically. The ruble is already going down. Russia has major economic challenges.

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“I can’t imagine that an occupation of another country is something that appeals to a people who are trying to reach out to the world, and particularly if it involves violence,” Mr Kerry said.

He also mentioned visa bans, the freezing of Russian assets, trade and investment penalties. He suggested American companies “may well want to start thinking twice about whether they want to do business with a country that behaves like this”.

He said the US was “absolutely prepared” to boycott the G-8 meeting planned for June in Sochi, Russia, site of the Winter Olympics, “if we can’t resolve it otherwise”.

At a press conference, Nato secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen said: “We support the rights of the people of Ukraine to determine their own future without outside interference.

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“We emphasis the need for Ukraine to continue to uphold the democratic rights of all people and to ensure minority rights are protected.

“Ukraine is our neighbour and Ukraine is a valued partner for Nato. We urge all parties to urgently continue all efforts to move away from this dangerous situation.

“In particular, I call on Russia to de-escalate tensions.”

Hundreds of British-based Ukrainians gathered outside the Russian Embassy in London yesterday to protest against the build-up of troops in the Crimea region.

The demonstrators chanted and held banners demanding “Hands off Ukraine”. Many of them waved placards accusing president Vladimir Putin of being the “Russian aggressor” and they sang: “Putin is a murderer” and “stop the occupation”.

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The protest was non-violent and the demonstrators remained behind metal barriers on the opposite side of the road from the embassy in Kensington Palace Gardens, west London.

Many cars sounded their horns in support as they drove past the 400-strong crowd.

Vladimir Kazantsev, who moved from Ukraine to London to work in IT, insisted that Russian-speaking people in his homeland do not need “protection” by Russian troops.

“I want Putin to respect the freedom of my country to elect our own Government and to choose our own destiny,” he said.

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Ed Miliband accused Treasury Minister Sajid Javid of “petty point scoring” after he claimed the Labour leader’s refusal to back action in Syria had influenced Russia’s response to Ukraine.

The Tory tweeted: “Direct link between Miliband’s cynical vote against #Syria motion & Russia’s actions on #Ukraine. Completely unfit to lead Britain.”

Mr Miliband said: “At this dangerous time for the world, the British people do not expect politicians to be indulging in petty point-scoring. What we need is for all parties in Britain to put politics aside so we can find a swift solution to the crisis.

“Labour will support the Government on the issue, and the international community should speak with one voice.”