WATCH ABOVE: During a phone call Friday, U.S. President barrack Obama had more strong words for Russian President Vladmir Putin: remove your troops from Ukraine’s eastern border. Robin Stickley reports.
LATEST UPDATES:
- Kerry in Paris to meet with Russian foreign minister
- Obama urges Russia to pull back troops from Ukraine border
- Russia agrees to turn over some weapons, military equipment in Crimea to Ukraine
- Congress close to sending Obama bill to aid cash-strapped Ukraine, punish Russia over Crimea
- Industry Minister James Moore says Canadian companies who do business with Russia should have seen economic sanctions coming
PARIS – After a week of travel in the Mideast, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry changed course and arrived in Paris Saturday for talks with his Russian counterpart on the Ukraine crisis.
Halfway home from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Kerry landed in Shannon, Ireland, for a refuelling stop, when he decided to turn his plane around and headed to Paris. Kerry is to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Sunday evening at the Russian ambassador’s residence.
Kerry spoke to Lavrov on the flight to Shannon after President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed in a call on Friday to have their foreign ministers meet to discuss a possible diplomatic resolution to the Ukraine situation.
While in Paris, Kerry may also meet separately with the French foreign minister Laurent Fabius.
State Department spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki on Saturday confirmed the day and general time of the Kerry-Lavrov meeting.
Putin calls Obama to discuss Ukraine crisis
During Friday’s hourlong call Obama urged Putin to withdraw his troops from the border with Ukraine. The Russian leader, who initiated the call, asserted that Ukraine’s government is allowing extremists to intimidate civilians with impunity – something Ukraine insists has not happened.
The White House says Obama urged Russia to offer a written response to a diplomatic resolution to the Ukraine crisis that the U.S. has presented. Obama and Putin agreed that Secretary of State John Kerry will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to discuss further steps.
READ MORE: From A to Z: These are the 10 countries backing Putin’s annexation of Crimea
Obama says Ukraine’s government is pursuing de-escalation despite Russia’s incursion into Crimea. He urged Putin to support that and to stop building up troops on its border with Ukraine.
The call comes as Ukraine’s government and the West are concerned about a possible Russian invasion in eastern Ukraine.
Russia agrees to turn over weapons
Russia’s president says Ukraine could regain some arms and equipment of military units in Crimea that did not switch their loyalty to Russia.
Russian forces took control of Ukrainian military installations in Crimea this month after Russia formally annexed the Black Sea peninsula. Some Ukrainian servicemen reportedly joined Russian forces, while others withdrew.
READ MORE: Russian annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea illegal: UN General Assembly
Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu on Friday told President Vladimir Putin that the Ukrainian withdrawal from Crimea is complete, Russian news agencies reported.
Putin also approved Shoigu’s proposal to turn over arms and equipment of the units still loyal to Ukraine, the reports said. No specifics were given on quantities, types of hardware, or timing
Congress close to sending Obama bill to aid cash-strapped Ukraine, punish Russia over Crimea
Congress is close to sending President Barack Obama a bill to give $1 billion in loan guarantees to cash-strapped Ukraine and provide the administration broad authority to levy more sanctions on Russia for its annexation of Crimea.
On a voice vote, the Senate approved its version of the legislation Thursday. The House endorsed a different version on a 399-19 vote and was poised to pass the Senate version Friday, the final step needed to send the bill to Obama.
“We must target those guilty of aggression against Ukraine and stand by our allies and friends to ensure peace and security in Europe,” the House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman, Rep. Ed Royce said.
READ MORE: Russia annexed Crimea, but at what cost?
“Passage of this bill by the House today demonstrates that our words do have meaning and sends a clear message of American resolve that will be heard in Kyiv, in Moscow, and around the world,” Royce added.
The votes came as Obama wrapped up a three-country European trip during which he solicited support of allies in challenging Russia’s moves in Ukraine. The rare congressional unity contrasted with recent partisan divisions over the Ukraine package, including disputes over new IRS regulations on groups claiming tax-exempt status and International Monetary Fund reforms.
No special help for Canadian firms caught in Russia sanctions crossfire: Moore
Industry Minister James Moore says Canadian companies who do business with Russia should have seen economic sanctions coming.
Moore says he can offer sympathy to companies caught up in the diplomatic war between the west and Russia over its treatment of Ukraine.
But he says it’s naive for companies not to have had their eyes open and realized sanctions were possible.
Moore adds that Canada’s foreign policy must be based on principles and not held hostage to short-term business interests.
Canada-Russia trade is relatively small, but the economic relationship has been expanding rapidly and the former communist country was listed as a “priority market” in a federal government global commerce strategy paper issued in November.
Dozens of Canadian firms do business with Russia and could potentially be caught in the crossfire of rising political tensions.
The Canada Eurasia Russia Business Association says so far, the sanctions have been surgical in nature and most members are carrying on business as usual.
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