Above: The Parliament in the autonomous region of Crimea has voted to hold a referendum to break away from Ukraine and join Russia. Tom Clark and Paul Johnson report from Ukraine.
- Obama says referendum for Crimea to become part of Russia would violate international law
- Canada won’t recognize Crimean referendum on joining Russia
- EU leaders weighing sanctions against Russia
- 11,000 pro-Russian troops in control of Crimea
- White House announces visa restrictions on Russians in response to Ukraine crisis
SIMFEROPOL, Ukraine – Prime Minister Stephen Harper says Crimea is a region under “illegal military occupation” and that Canada will not recognize its forthcoming referendum on whether to join Russia.
Harper describes Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as an act of aggression and a clear violation both of Ukraine’s sovereignty and international law.
Also on Thursday, President Barack Obama declared that a referendum in 10 days on the future of a Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula would violate international law, and the United States moved to impose visa restrictions and financial sanctions on Russians and Ukrainians for the moves Moscow already has made into Crimea.
Speaking from the White House, Obama said any decisions on the future of Crimea, a pro-Russian area of Ukraine, must include the country’s new government.
“The proposed referendum on the future of Crimea would violate the constitution and violate international law,” Obama said, hours after government officials in Crimea set a March 16 date for a referendum on whether the region should become part of Russia.
Crimean lawmakers want to leave Ukraine, join Russia
Lawmakers in Crimea declared their intention Thursday to split from Ukraine and join Russia instead, and scheduled a referendum in 10 days for voters to decide the fate of the disputed peninsula. Russia’s parliament, clearly savoring the action, introduced a bill intended to make this happen.
U.S. visa restrictions</b
WATCH: US hits Russia with sanctions as they continue to pursue diplomatic resolution
Ukraine’s prime minister said the Crimean lawmakers’ decision is illegitimate, as a European Union official warned that results of any referendum will not be recognized by the West.
The 100-seat parliament in Crimea, which enjoys a degree of autonomy under current Ukrainian law, voted 78-0, with eight abstentions in favour joining Russia and for holding the referendum on March 16. Local voters will also be given the choice of deciding to remain part of Ukraine, but with enhanced local powers.
“This is our response to the disorder and lawlessness in Kyiv,” said Sergei Shuvainikov, a member of the local Crimean legislature, “We will decide our future ourselves.”
EU leaders slap initial sanctions on Russia
The European Union suspended talks with Russia on a wide-ranging economic pact and on a visa deal Thursday, punishing Moscow for its military incursion into the Crimean Peninsula of Ukraine.
EU leaders made the announcement at an emergency summit and threatened further sanctions if Russia does not quickly engage in talks to end the crisis.
11,000 pro-Russian troops in control of Crimea
Crimea’s new leader has said pro-Russian forces numbering more than 11,000 now control all access to the peninsula in the Black Sea and have blockaded all military bases that have not yet surrendered.
The West has joined the new Ukrainian leadership in Kyiv in demanding that Russia pull its forces back from Crimea.
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The EU on Wednesday extended $15 billion in aid to help support the new Ukrainian government, which took over in late February after months of protests drove out the Moscow-supported president, Viktor Yanukovych.
U.S. Congress rushing to put in place Russia sanctions but needs help
The U.S. sanctions push represents a rare case of broad agreement among the Obama administration and Democrats and Republicans in both houses of Congress. But they’re also united in their concern that American economic penalties will mean little without the participation of European countries with far deeper commercial relations with Russia.
The Senate is taking the lead with legislation that would combine loan guarantees to Ukraine’s fledgling government and measures against Russian government officials, state-owned banks and companies. The goal of the sanctions is to force Putin to withdraw Russian troops from Crimea. The bill could be introduced as early as next week.
Canadian observers headed to Ukraine
Prime Minister Stephen Harper condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine Wednesday.
“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a clear violation of international law,” said Harper in a statement. “As such, today I am announcing that we are suspending our participation in the Canada-Russia Intergovernmental Economic Commission, established to promote economic relations between Canada and Russia.”
Harper confirmed that Canada will send observers to join an unarmed military mission in the Ukraine and will impose sanctions on the regime of fugitive President Viktor Yanukovych.
He told the House of Commons the observers will help to monitor the Russian military intervention in Crimea.
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