Obama: Ukraine referendum a ‘violation of international law’

On a day of fast-moving developments, the president said that any plan on the future of Ukraine must include its legitimate government and warned of further sanctions to follow.

MPs in Crimea on Thursday voted to bring forward a planned referendum to 16 March, and changed its terms to ask voters whether they were in favour of reuniting with the Russian Federation. Crimean citizens had been due to vote on 30 March on whether their region should enjoy “state autonomy” within Ukraine.

Mr Obama also called on Russia to withdraw troops in Crimea back to Russian bases and to allow international monitors in. “But if this violation of international law continues, the resolve of the United states … and our allies will remain firm,” he said.

‘Far reaching consequences’

Earlier in the day, leaders of the European Union warned Russia of “far-reaching consequences” unless it enters into direct talks with the Ukraine government to end the crisis on the Crimea.

It cannot be business as usual with Russia David Cameron

Following an emergency summit in Brussels, EU leaders agreed a limited package of sanctions to be put in place with immediate effect. And they warned of further measure – including asset freezes and travel bans – unless there was swift action to end the crisis.

Prime Minister David Cameron said:

“We cannot accept Russia creating new facts on the ground without these talks taking place. Illegal actions committed by Russia cannot pass without a response. It cannot be business as usual with Russia.

“If Russia does not rapidly engage in direct talks with the Ukrainian government to find a solution to this crisis, we have been clear in the statement today that we will go further.”

Read Gary Gibbon's blog - Ukraine crisis: Russian provocation stiffens EU resolve

Ukrainian demonstrators, protesting outside the EU meeting in Brussels, told Channel 4 News that they wanted to see strong action against Russia for its actions in Crimea.

Immediate measures include suspending negotiations on a more liberal visa regime for Russians, halting work on a comprehensive new agreement on relations with the EU, and suspending preparations for the G8 summit in Sochi.

It came on a day that international police agency Interpol said it was reviewing a request by Ukrainian authorities for it to issue a so-called “red notice” for the arrest of Viktor Yanukovich, who was ousted as its president.

Mr Cameron said there was “no excuse now” for the Russians not to meet the Ukrainians for talks. “If the talks don’t get under way and the talks don’t make rapid progress, then we move to the second stage which is asset freezes and travel bans and that again could happen relatively quickly if progress isn’t made.

“All the offers last night were on the table about how to create a contact group that includes Ukraine and Russia. That’s clearly what needs to happen, it’s less important who else is in that contact group.

“What matters is that, with international support, the Ukrainian government and the Russian government are talking to each other. Frankly there’s no excuse now for that not to happen and the Russians need to help make that happen and if they don’t, consequences will follow.”

Military deployments

The USS Truxtun, a US Navy guided-missile destroyer, is heading to the Black Sea for what the U.S. military on Thursday described as a “routine” deployment that was scheduled well before the crisis in Ukraine.

The announcement came a day after the Pentagon unveiled plans to put more US fighter jets on a NATO air patrol mission in the Baltics, moving to reassure allies alarmed by Russia’s effective seizure of the Crimea.