Ukraine Crisis Talks Fail To Reach Deal n4sa/arkiv/166086 Tensions between Russia and the West over Ukraine continue after lengthy talks aimed at defusing the stand-off ended without agreement. After discussions lasting more than five hours, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow would respect the outcome of a controversial breakaway vote in Crimea, which Western powers have branded illegitimate. And US Secretary of State John Kerry said Russias approval of the referendum result would amount to a backdoor annexation of Crimea. The Russian Foreign Ministry issued this picture of Mr Kerry and Mr Lavrov America and the European Union have warned Russia of sanctions including asset freezes and travel bans unless a planned vote on the southern region joining Russia is called off. But Mr Lavrov said such measures would be a counter-productive instrument. Russian forces moved to seize Crimea within days of Ukraines pro-Kremlin president Viktor Yanukovych being forced from office, after three months of demonstrations against a decision to ditch closer ties with the European Union in favour of Russia. Crimea is home to Russias Black Sea fleet and the majority of the population are ethnic Russians. But it has fuelled claims the referendum is being conducted under the barrel of a gun. Mr Lavrov compared the situation in Crimea to Britains action in the Falklands. He said: Are there precedents in international law? There are precedents of course. A soldier, believed to be Russian, on guard at a Ukrainian military base Everybody understands that Crimea for Russia is something really important, what it means for Russia. It means immeasurably more for Russia than the Falklands means for the United Kingdom or Comoros for France. Speaking through an interpreter, Mr Lavrov told a news conference: We have to respect the results of this referendum. He also rejected Western calls for the creation of an international contact group on the Ukraine to resolve the crisis. Mr Lavrov insisted Moscow had no plans of military intrusion into eastern Ukraine following clashes which left at least one person dead. A billboard urging people to vote in the referendum on the future of Crimea But Mr Kerry told journalists the referendum was illegitimate and flew in the face of international law. He said: Neither we nor the international community will recognise the results of this referendum. Mr Kerry said no threats were being made to Russia about sanctions but there were consequences for the choices it makes. He also stressed the US recognised Moscow had legitimate interests in Crimea, which needed to be addressed. But he said: We believe that a decision to move forward by Russia to ratify the vote officially within the Duma would in fact be a back-door annexation of Crimea. It would be against international law and, frankly, fly in the face of every legitimate effort to try to reach out to Russia and others to say there is a different way to protect the interests of Crimeans, to protect Russias interests and to respect the integrity of Ukraine and the sovereignty of Ukraine. John Kerry met William Hague and David Cameron at Downing Street Earlier, Foreign Secretary William Hague acknowledged it would be formidably difficult for Mr Kerry and Mr Lavrov to make progress in tackling the crisis. Describing the Crimea vote on Sunday as deeply unhelpful, Mr Hague said: This is a referendum which doesnt meet any international norms or standards. EU foreign ministers will meet in Brussels on Monday to discuss sanctions, and it is understood ambassadors are meeting in secret session where a list is being drawn up of individuals who could be targeted by measures. Related Stories Crisis Places Ukraine Military In Spotlight US Warns Russia Over Crimea Involvement Ukraine: Pro-Kiev Protester Stabbed To Death Source Article from news.sky/story/1225934Ukraine Crisis Talks Fail To Reach Dealnews.sky/story/1225934news.sky/feeds/rss/world.xmlWorld News - Breaking international news and headlines | Sky NewsThe latest international news from Sky, featuring top stories from around the world and breaking news, as it happens.media.skynews/images/web/logo/skynewshd_rss.png n4sa/arkiv/166086
Posted on: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 18:50:33 +0000