Referring to Russia's actions in Crimea as an "intervention" and saying that the U.S. will continue to "mobilize the international community to condemn this violation of international law," President Obama just delivered some of his more extensive remarks to date about the crisis in Ukraine.
In laying out his rationale for earlier Thursday ordering the Treasury and State departments to begin imposing travel and financial sanctions on individuals who are responsible for Russia's actions, Obama added that the world is "well beyond the days when borders can be withdrawn over the heads of democratic leaders."
While Russian President Vladimir Putin denies that they are Russian forces, armed soldiers who witnesses and journalists say are Russian troops have effectively taken control in Crimea, a strategically important peninsula where Moscow has a naval base. The soldiers moved in after Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted by his nation's parliament — a toppling that came after months of protests over widespread corruption and Yanukovych's pro-Russian leanings.
He decried the move by the parliament in Crimea, an autonomous region of Ukraine, to take steps toward breaking off and joining Russia. "The proposed referendum on the future of Crimea would violate the Ukrainian constitution and violate international law," Obama said.
There is a way to resolve the crisis that respects Russia's interests, the president said: "Let international monitors into all of Ukraine, including Crimea ... to insure the rights of all Ukrainians are being respected."
