US warns Russia it would be a 'grave mistake' to send its military into Ukraine as its new leader says it wants to integrate with Europe
- Susan Rice, Obama's national security adviser said it is not in interests to see the country split
- 'It's in nobody's interest to see violence return and the situation escalate,' Rice said today in interview
- Opposition politician captured kissing daughter Yevgenia upon her arrival to Kiev's iconic Independence Square
- Ukrainian parliament voted to oust Mr Yanukovych - duties temporarily handed over to Oleksander Turchinov
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America has warned Russia it would be a 'grave mistake' to send military forces into Ukraine as its new leader said it wants to integrate with the European Union.
Susan Rice, President Barack Obama's national security adviser said it is not in the interests of Ukraine, Russia, Europe or the United States to see the country split.
Speaking on the NBC program 'Meet the Press', Ms Rice was asked about a possible scenario in which Russia would send forces into Ukraine to restore a government more friendly to Moscow.
People gather for prayers and to listen to
speakers in Independence Square in Kiev, Ukraine. After a chaotic and
violent week, Viktor Yanukovych has been ousted as President as the
Ukrainian parliament moves forward with scheduling new elections and
establishing a caretaker government
People wave a large Ukrainian flag in
Independence Square. It comes as Ukraine's new interim president said on
Sunday that he was open to dialogue with Russia as long as Moscow
respected his country's decision to seek closer ties with the European
Union
People lay flowers and pay their respects at a memorial for anti-government protesters killed in clashes with police
People light candles inside a tent serving as a
chapel in Independence Square. The crisis in Ukraine reflects the
conflict between those who want the country to remain aligned with
Moscow and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and those seeking closer
integration with Western Europe
A sea of flowers covers the ground where protesters were killed in violent clashes with police
People visit Independence Square for what has become a traditional Sunday gathering to protest the government
People view floral tributes to anti-government demonstrators killed in clashes with police
Anti-Yanukovich protesters attempt to
demolish the 'Monument to Soviet secret security service (checkists) -
fighters of the revolution'in Kiev February 23, 2014
Activists guard Ukraine's National Bank
close to Kiev's Independence Square today. Volunteers are protecting
government buildings from vandalism
Ukrainian supporters of ousted President Viktor
Yanukovich gather to try to prevent Victory celebrations by Maidan
supporters in Donetsk
Ukrainian President supporters gather to try to
prevent Victory celebrations by Maidan supporters in Donetsk. A new era
dawned in Ukraine today when parliament appointed a pro-Western interim
leader
Pro-Russian activists gather to form local public guards to oppose pro-EU groups in Simferopol in Crimea, today
Anti-government protesters attack a deputy of
the Party of Regions Vitaly Grushevsky (centre bottom) who attempts to
take cover outside the Ukrainian Parliament building in Kiev
She said: 'That would be a grave mistake. It is
not in the interests of Ukraine or of Russia or of Europe or the United
States to see the country split. It's in nobody's interest to see
violence return and the situation escalate.'
Ms Rice's comments are the most extensive from the White House to date since the recent dramatic events unfolded in Ukraine.
It
comes as Ukraine's new interim president said on Sunday that he was
open to dialogue with Russia as long as Moscow respected his country's
decision to seek closer ties with the European Union.
'We
are ready for a dialogue with Russia... that takes into account
Ukraine's European choice, which I hope will be confirmed in
(presidential) elections' set for May 25, Oleksandr Turchynov said in a
television address.
As the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, end Putin is now likely to more closely focus on the Ukrainian situation.
The State Department said on Saturday it would send its No. 2 official, Bill Burns, to Kiev this week.
Rice
said the United States wants a de-escalation of the violence in
Ukraine, constitutional changes, democratic elections 'in very short
order,' and the opportunity for Ukrainians to come together in a
coalition unity government.
She said U.S. authorities are not sure where Russian-backed President Viktor Yanukovich has fled.
'He is in a place that will reveal itself. Yesterday we knew where he was. Today we're not so sure,' Rice said.
The
crisis in Ukraine reflects the conflict between those who want the
country to remain aligned with Moscow and Russian President Vladimir
Putin, and those seeking closer integration with Western Europe.
Former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko
kisses her daughter Eugenia, right, upon her arrival to Kiev's iconic
Independence Square to address the assembled crowd
Former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko
is helped out of her car by her daughter Eugenia, before she addressed a
crowed in Independence Square
Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko
(left) listens to her daughter Eugenia as she stands on a stage before
addressing anti-government protesters gathered in Independence Square in
Kiev
But Rice said those goals were not 'mutually exclusive'.
'There is not an inherent contradiction ... between a Ukraine that has longstanding historic and cultural ties to Russia and a modern Ukraine that wants to integrate more closely with Europe,' Rice said.
On Sunday, Ukraine's parliament, exercising power since mass protests caused Yanukovich to flee, named its new speaker as acting head of state and worked to form a new government.
The
European Union and Russia, vying for influence over the huge former
Soviet republic on their borders, considered their next moves.
Russia, which had provided funding to Yanukovich's government, said it would keep cash on hold until it sees who is in charge.
Asked whether Putin looked at Russia's sphere of influence in Ukraine in a Cold War context, Rice said that 'he may'.
'But if he does, that's a pretty dated perspective that doesn't reflect where the people of Ukraine are coming from. This is not about the U.S. and Russia,' Rice added.
Two key lawmakers urged the Obama administration to make clear that Ukraine's territorial integrity must be protected.
'I think the message has to be sent to him (Putin) that let the Ukrainian people determine their own future, and a partition of Ukraine ... is totally unacceptable,' Republican Senator John McCain, a key Republican voice on foreign policy, told the CBS program 'Face the Nation'.
'And we need to act immediately to give them (Ukrainians) the economic assistance that they need, based on reforms that are gonna be required, as well. So it's gonna be tough sledding.'
Bob Corker, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, added in a statement: 'The United States should do everything possible to ensure Ukraine remains one country and that their territorial and political integrity is maintained, allowing them the freedom to choose a future within Europe.'
Earlier on Sunday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew met his Russian counterpart, Anton Siluanov, on the sidelines of a Group of 20 meeting in Sydney to discuss the situation in Ukraine.
'Secretary Lew emphasised that the United States, working with other countries including Russia, stands ready to assist Ukraine as it implements reforms to restore economic stability and seeks to return to a path of democracy and growth,' a Treasury Department official said.
Earlier today, images emerged of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko in tears as she was reunited with her daughter for the first time in two and a half years after she was released from prison.
In emotional scenes the opposition politician was captured kissing her daughter Yevgenia upon her arrival to Kiev's iconic Independence Square to address the assembled crowd.
With its president gone and a new one named today to fill the void, Ukraine remains a country bitterly divided by an ethnic split that goes back to the collapse of the Soviet Union two decades ago.
For three months anti-government protesters have been involved in a stand-off with authorities.
With the news that President Viktor Yanukovich has fled Kiev and former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko has been released, the nation's future hangs in the balance.
Today, presidential duties were temporarily handed over to the speaker of the assembly, Oleksander Turchinov.
The Ukrainian parliament also voted to dismiss Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara, forcing out an ally of Mr Yanukovich.
Kozhara
has been closely involved in discussions with foreign powers over
Yanukovich's decision to spurn political and trade deals with the
European Union and rebuild economic ties with Russia instead.
Following the release of Yulia Tymoshenko the
former PM of Ukraine, mess tents are pitched at Maidan Nezalezhnosti,
the Independence Square
For three months anti-government protesters have
been involved in a stand-off with authorities. With the news that
President Viktor Yanukovich has fled Kiev and former prime minister
Yulia Tymoshenko has been released, the nation's future hangs in the
balance
Protests began in November when Yanukovych
abruptly refused to sign a long-anticipated political association and
free trade agreement with the European Union, opting instead for closer
ties with Russia
Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko
(second left) and her daughter Yevgenia (right) meet with U.S.
ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt (left) and head of the EU
Delegation to Ukraine Jan Tombinski in Kiev
The map shows the political divide that has developed since the country gained independence in 1991
Protests began in November when
Yanukovych abruptly refused to sign a long-anticipated political
association and free trade agreement with the European Union, opting
instead for closer ties with Russia.
Yanukovych
is widely despised in western Ukraine but has strong support in the
Russian-speaking east, where he's from, as well as in the south.
Russian is widely spoken in the parts
of the east and south and in some places like the Crimean peninsula
where it is the main language.
This is largely a result of heavy immigration from Russia during the Soviet era.
However, in the west the population speaks Ukrainian and tends to be more nationalistic identifying with Central Europe.
Maps
show that areas where a significant proportion of people speak Russian
almost exactly match those which voted for Mr Yanukovych in 2010.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2565961/As-Ukrainian-parliament-names-new-acting-president-country-finally-pulled-apart-bitter-divide-20-years-making.html#ixzz2uD5R1BNc
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