Ukraine bows to Crimea seizure, plans for pullout
Surrendering to Russia’s inexorable seizure of Crimea, Ukraine announced plans Wednesday for mass troop withdrawals from the strategic peninsula as Moscow-loyal forces seized control of Kiev’s naval headquarters here and detained its commander.
Crimean forces take Ukrainian navy HQ
Crimea’s self-defense forces today stormed the Ukrainian navy headquarters in the Black Sea port of Sevastopol, taking possession without resistance a day after Russia signed a treaty with local authorities to annex the region.
Putin approves Crimea annexation draft
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin today approved a draft bill for the annexation of Crimea, one of a flurry of steps to formally take over the Black Sea peninsula.
U.S. expected to announce Russian sanctions
The U.S. and its allies in Europe are expected to announce sanctions against Russia, including visa bans and potential asset freezes, today, one day after Crimea’s vote to secede from Ukraine and join Russia.
Russia reinforces military presence in Crimea
Dozens of military trucks transporting heavily armed soldiers rumbled over Crimea’s rutted roads Saturday as Russia reinforced its armed presence on the disputed peninsula in the Black Sea. Moscow’s foreign minister ruled out any dialogue with Ukraine’s new authorities, whom he dismissed as the puppets of extremists.
Obama’s warnings brushed aside by Putin
One by one, President Barack Obama’s warnings to Russia are being brushed aside by President Vladimir Putin, who appears to only be speeding up efforts to formally stake his claim to Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula.
Possible diplomatic exit? Ukraine players converge on Paris
Top diplomats from the West and Russia trying to find an end to the crisis in Ukraine are gathering in Paris today as tensions simmered over the Russian military takeover of the strategic Crimean Peninsula.
Ukrainian MUW professor keeping close eye on conflict
With Russia and Ukraine teetering on the brink of armed conflict, a local professor is speaking out about what is happening in his home country.
George Pinchuk, a native of Ukraine, teaches biology at Mississippi University for Women and his wife, Lesya Pinchuk, teaches at Mississippi State University. The two have been in the United States for nearly 25 years.
Putin: Russia has right to use force in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin pulled his forces back from the Ukrainian border this morning yet said Moscow reserves the right to use all means to protect Russians in Ukraine. He accused the West of encouraging an anti-constitutional coup in Ukraine and driving it onto anarchy and declared that any sanctions the West places on Russia will backfire.
Russian troops take over Ukraine’s Crimea region
Russian troops took over Crimea as the parliament in Moscow gave President Vladimir Putin a green light Saturday to use the military to protect Russian interests in Ukraine.
Scores killed during Ukraine protests
Protesters advanced on police lines in the heart of the Ukrainian capital on Thursday, prompting government snipers to shoot back and kill scores of people in the country’s deadliest day since the breakup of the Soviet Union a quarter-century ago.
Ukraine: At least 18 dead as truce collapses
Fierce clashes between police and protesters — some including gunfire — shattered a brief truce in Ukraine’s besieged capital Thursday, killing at least 19 people.
Sochi hijack attempt over Ukrainian prisoners
A Ukrainian man who allegedly tried to hijack a Turkey-bound commercial flight and divert it to Sochi on the day of the Winter Olympics’ opening ceremony wanted to press for the release of anti-government protesters in his country, authorities said Saturday.