A White House statement issued Thursday contains the text of an Executive Order declaring:
"...I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, find that the actions and policies of persons -- including persons who have asserted governmental authority in the Crimean region without the authorization of the Government of Ukraine -- that undermine democratic processes and institutions in Ukraine; threaten its peace, security, stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; and contribute to the misappropriation of its assets, constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States, and I hereby declare a national emergency to deal with that threat..."
The Executive Order is titled: "BLOCKING PROPERTY OF CERTAIN PERSONS CONTRIBUTING TO THE SITUATION IN UKRAINE." In a statement to the press, Obama said Thursday:
"This morning I signed an executive order that authorizes sanctions on individuals and entities responsible for violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, or for stealing the assets of the Ukrainian people. According to my guidance, the State Department has also put in place restrictions on the travel of certain individuals and officials. These decisions continue our efforts to impose a cost on Russia and those responsible for the situation in Crimea. And they also give us the flexibility to adjust our response going forward based on Russia’s actions."
Obama said these actions were being done in coordination with European allies. " I’ve spoken to several of our closest friends around the world, and I’m pleased that our international unity is on display at this important moment. Already, we’ve moved together to announced substantial assistance for the government in Kyiv, [Kiev] and today in Brussels, our allies took similar steps to impose costs on Russia," he said.
Regarding an upcoming referendum in Crimea on its becoming part of Russia Obama said that the referendum "...would violate the Ukrainian constitution and violate international law. Any discussion about the future of Ukraine must include the legitimate government of Ukraine. In 2014, we are well beyond the days when borders can be redrawn over the heads of democratic leaders..."
Obama described "the path of de-escalation" with respect to the developments in the Ukraine but used forceful language, stating "...if this violation of international law continues, the resolve of the United States, and our allies and the international community will remain firm. Meanwhile, we’ve taken steps to reaffirm our commitment to the security and democracy of our allies in Eastern Europe and to support the people of Ukraine..."
Meanwhile, the Department of Defense stated via the American Forces Press Service that the U.S. was focusing diplomatic and economic pressure on Russia to "...de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine, and senior administration and defense officials continue to engage with their Russian counterparts..."
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said yesterday, "...Earlier this week, I directed the Department of Defense to suspend all military-to-military engagements and exercises with Russia. And yesterday, I announced a series of steps [the department] will take to reinforce allies in Central and Eastern Europe during this crisis..."
He said actions include increasing joint training through the DOD aviation detachment in Poland, made up of airmen from the 31st Fighter Wing who train and work with their Polish partners at Lask Air Base in central Poland, and that the U.S. was augmenting its participation in NATO's Baltic air policing mission, revealing that six F-15 jet fighters had arrived in Lithuania this week.
Chairman of the Joint chiefs of Staff, Army General Martin Dempsey said, "...I'm engaged with our NATO allies. I've spoken both yesterday and today with my Russian counterpart, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, and will continue to maintain that line of communication..."
In a White House background teleconference with reporters, senior administration officials discussed details of the new visa restrictions and the executive order (State of Emergency) in support of Ukraine.
The DOD statement declared that "...Since the Russian intervention in Ukraine, you have seen us work on several lines of effort to mobilize international unity, to condemn the Russian intervention, to impose cost on Russia for debt interventions so they are isolated politically and economically [and] to provide additional support for the government in Kiev...A monitoring team from the [Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe] has arrived in Ukraine [and] moved out to different parts of the country. The team has an important set of experiences and capabilities to ensure that basic rights are being protected. We believe that that monitoring mission should expand into Crimea and can be the basis for a way of deescalating the crisis..."
The AFPS Cheryl Pellerin dispatch reports that:
- The North Atlantic Council, European allies and G-7 countries all have condemned Russia’s aggression, he added, and the United States has suspended preparatory meetings for the G-8 in Sochi, Russia.
- The United States also has cancelled discussions associated with deepening trade and commercial ties with Russia,
- The U.S. has taken steps to impose costs on Russia and those who are responsible for violating Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
- There are individuals who have had their visas pulled or will be banned from visas... including Russians and Ukrainians.”
Secretary of State John Kerry said yesterday in Rome, in response to a question from the press about the Russian occupation of Crimea:
"...Crimea is part of Ukraine. Crimea is Ukraine. And we support the territorial integrity of Ukraine, and the Government of Ukraine needs to be involved in any kind of decision with respect to any part of Ukraine. Any referendum on Ukraine is going to have to be absolutely consistent with Ukrainian law. And it’s my understanding that the constitution of Ukraine requires all – requires an all-Ukraine referendum; in other words, every part of Ukraine, all Ukrainians, would have to be part of a referendum with respect to the territory of Ukraine. So therefore, the proposed referendum would violate the constitution of Ukraine and international law and the sovereignty...if it adheres to the constitution of Ukraine, it’s up to Ukrainians to define that. It’s not up to the United States or Russia to make that decision. Ukrainians need to live by Ukrainian law and according to the constitution, and their constitution would require precisely what I just said. So that is, I think, critical to anything that would flow..."
Today, aboard Air Force One (enroute to Florida, as Obama and Flotus headed to Coral Reef High School, where Obama would be speaking), principal Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest spoke to reporters about developments in the Ukraine. According to a White House statement, Earnest characterized an "off ramp" for Putin:
"...I do think that what we have seen over the course of the last several days is the President has marshalled our allies to put in place a structure for responding to the situation that we’re seeing on the ground in Ukraine. The President has had, again, multiple conversations with President Putin where he highlighted that there is an off-ramp here, that there is an opportunity for the Russians to sit down with the Ukrainians, facilitated by the international community, if necessary, to try to broker an agreement, to allow international inspectors into every corner of the nation of Ukraine to ensure that the rights of everybody, including the rights of ethnic Russians, are being protected..."
Earnest continued with the cautious assessment, saying:
"...So the real test is whether or not the Russians are going to take advantage of this off-ramp that is available here. And we’re hopeful that the Russians will take the steps necessary to deescalate the situation -- by observing the basing agreements, by supporting elections, by entering into talks, facilitated by the international community, if necessary, with the Ukrainians to try to resolve all this. And again, that could also include putting international monitors all throughout Ukraine to ensure that the rights of everybody, including ethnic Russians, are being respected...President Putin has indicated that that's part of Russia’s interest in the region, and it’s part of the U.S. and the international community’s interest in the region. So there is some common ground here..."
Obama is pushing Congress to approve International Monetary Fund legislation for the U.S.to provide economic support for the Ukraine:
"Today, once again, I’m calling on Congress to follow up on these words with action, specifically to support the IMF’s capacity to lend resources to Ukraine and to provide American assistance for the Ukrainian government so that they can weather this storm and stabilize their economy, make needed reforms, deliver for their people, all of which will provide a smoother pathway for the elections that have already been scheduled in May."
At a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on Thursday, Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said, "...The United States has developed a package of bilateral assistance focused on meeting Ukraine’s most pressing needs. This package will include $1 billion in loan guarantees and IMF quota legislation, which would support the IMF's capacity to lend additional resources to Ukraine and help preserve continued U.S. leadership within this important institution at a critical time...While the United States will not increase our total financial commitment to the IMF by approving the 2010 reforms, it is important to note that for every dollar the United States contributes to the IMF, other countries provide four dollars more...At a time when the U.S. is at the forefront of international calls in urging the Fund to play a central and active first responder role in Ukraine, it is imperative that we secure passage of IMF legislation now so we can show support for the IMF in this critical moment and preserve our leading influential voice in the institution..."
Alexander Lukashevich of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia responded to the statements by the United States officials about sanctions against Russia. From a Russian Ministry of Defense Statement:
"...The threats to “punish” Russia for its principled line with regard to the settlement of the crisis situation in Ukraine, which we have been hearing from Washington lately, aggrieve us, not only because of the lack of elementary knowledge of history in those who are so fond of discussing this topic. The bad thing is that the US politicians and statesmen seem to lose any sense of adequate perception of the real state of affairs in the swiftly changing multipolar world of the XXI century,.." said Lukashevich.
"...Every time they see something, which does not fit into hoary American schemes, there are those who are eager to grasp at a 'sanctions club'. This has become a kind of reflex. They threaten us with 'serious consequences, announce that they will freeze cooperation in military issues, stop the dialogue about the formation of a new framework of trade and investment ties, and cancel contacts at different levels. They promise us new measures, despite the fact that the harm will inevitably affect both sides. Emotions and vexation because of their inability to impose their will, and subdue others with their own opinions about the “right” and the “wrong” side of history, prevail over common sense and logic..." he said.
"...We have explained to the Americans many times (using facts and legal considerations), why their unilateral sanction measures do not fit standards of civilised interstate relations. There is no effect. So we have to respond, however, this should not definitely be a mirror effect. As we always do in such situations, which were provoked by Washington’s ill-judged and irresponsible actions, we emphasise: this has not been our choice..."
While the White House and State departments talk about diplomatic and economic sanctions against Russia, a voice for stronger measures hinted from an unlikely corner, down the street and beyond the Washington Memorial. Marco Rubio, in a joint statement with Congressman Tom Cotton, said:
"...If, in the coming days, Russia does not back down, Ukraine will require more than just our moral and financial support, including defense assistance in the form of a military assessment team to examine Ukraine’s needs, as well as enhanced intelligence cooperation..."
