SHOWDOWN: 'There Will Be Costs' for Ukraine Military Intervention, Obama tells Russia
President
Barack Obama said Thursday that “there will be costs to any military
intervention in Ukraine,” after Russian military forces reportedly
entered that country’s Crimea region.
“Any
violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity would be
deeply destabilizing,” Obama said at the White House, saying the United
States is “deeply concerned” about the reports of the Russian presence
there.
“The Ukrainian people deserve the opportunity to determine their own future,” he said
U.S.
officials confirm to NBC News that uniformed Russian forces are still
entering Simferopol in Ukraine’s Crimea region. While not able to
confirm the numbers used by Ukraine officials -- 2,000 or more -- the
officials say they have no reason to doubt the basic information that
there are Russians arriving on Russian aircraft.
Ukraine's U.N. Ambassador, Yuriy Sergeyev, told reporters Friday that "we are strong enough to defend
ourselves."
The Obama administration has repeatedly warned Russia not to inflame tensions in Ukraine by intervening in the volatile country.
Obama’s
remarks come after deposed Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych
pledged to “keep fighting” the new leaders of the country. Yanukovych,
who has resurfaced in Russia, blamed the West for “irresponsible
policies” and “pandering to” to protesters who occupied Kiev.
