Ukraine crisis: will Putin be dumped by the G8?
Talks over how to deal with Russia begin, including possible expulsion from the G8, as Ukraine withdraws soldiers from Crimea and concerns grow that Moscow is planning further military incursions.
As the G7 group of countries was preparing to meet in the Hague to discuss further sanctions, with Russia continuing to bolster its position in Crimea. British Prime Minister David Cameron said a G8 summit due to be held in Sochi, Russia, in June would not not go ahead.
On Monday morning, Russian troops stormed another naval base in Crimea, in the port city of Feodosia, and took officers for questioning.
Following the raid, Ukraine’s Acting President Aleksander Turchinov announced that Ukraine’s military would withdraw from the area, in the face of “threats to the lives and health of our service personnel”.
Growing sanctions would bring significant consequences to the Russian economy. Barack Obama
And on Sunday, Nato‘s supreme commander in Europe warned that Russia had built up a “very, very sizeable and very, very ready” force on Ukraine’s eastern border (see video, below).
General Philip Breedlove warned that Nato allies needed to be prepared to defend against Russian military incursions, and also warned that Moscow’s ambitions could extend to Ossetia and Transnistria.
British Prime Minister David Cameron has suggested that Russia could be expelled from the G8 group of countries, which it joined in 1998.
On the weekend, Stephen Harper, the Canadian prime minister, also said that he would support Russia’s expulsion from the G8.
On Monday, David Cameron’s official spokesman said the “future of the ‘G’ grouping is the main item for discussion later this afternoon”.
The US and Europe have imposed sanctions against a range of Russian and Ukrainian politicians and officials over the annexation of Crimea, something that Vladimir Putin official completed last week.
However, talks on Monday will be around how the G7 countries, comprising the US, UK, Canada, Japan, Germany, France and Italy, can take more punitive steps.
On Monday, US President Barack Obama said, after a meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte: “Europe and America are united in our support of the Ukrainian government and the Ukrainian people.
“We’re united in imposing a cost on Russia for its actions so far. Prime Minister Rutte rightly pointed out yesterday the growing sanctions would bring significant consequences to the Russian economy.”