Russian military permitted to operate in Ukraine
Posted March 1, 2014 7:51 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
KYIV, RUSSIA (NEWS1130) – Russian parliament has granted President Vladimir Putin permission to use the country’s military in Ukraine.
The unanimous vote formalized what Ukrainian officials described as an ongoing deployment of Russian troops in the strategic region of Crimea. It also raised the possibility that Moscow could send its military elsewhere in Ukraine.
Putin’s call came as pro-Russian demonstrations broke out in Ukraine’s Russian-speaking east, where protesters raised Russian flags and beat up supporters of the new Ukrainian government.
Russia’s move sharply raised the stakes in the conflict following the ouster of Ukraine’s pro-Russian president last week by a protest movement aimed at turning Ukraine toward the European Union and away from Russia. President Barack Obama warned Moscow on Friday “there will be costs” if Russia intervenes militarily.
The United Nations Security Council will be holding a closed door meeting for the second consecutive day to discuss the current situation in Ukraine.
The council also held closed door consultations on Friday at the request of Ukraine’s U.N. Ambassador Yuriy Sergeyev who referred to “the deterioration of the situation” in the Crimean Peninsula which he said “threatens the territorial integrity of Ukraine.”
Meantime, The Department of Foreign Affairs is advising against travel to Ukraine’s Crimea region and says Canadians already there should consider leaving “while it is safe to do so.”
It says those who can’t leave Crimea _ where the airports aren’t operating _ should stay indoors and avoid large crowds and demonstrations.
The department is also advising against non-essential travel to Kyiv due to instability.
