Obama Warns Russia: There “Will Be Costs” for Military Intervention in Ukraine
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The White House(WASHINGTON) — President Obama Friday expressed concern about reports of Russian military movement in Ukraine and warned Moscow there “will be costs” if Russia intervenes.
“We are now deeply concerned by reports of military movements taken by the Russian Federation inside of Ukraine,” the president told reporters in a hastily announced statement in the White House Briefing Room. “Any violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity would be deeply destabilizing, which is not in the interests of Ukraine, Russia or Europe. It would represent a profound interference in matters that must be determined by the Ukrainian people.”
“It would be a clear violation of Russia’s commitment to respect the independence and sovereignty and borders of Ukraine, and of international laws,” he continued. “The United States will stand with the international community in affirming that there will be costs for any military intervention in Ukraine.”
Making his first public comments on the crisis since ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was pushed from power, Obama described the situation as “fluid.”
Vice President Biden spoke with the Prime Minister of Ukraine Friday to “assure him that in this difficult moment, the United States supports his government’s efforts and stands for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and democratic future of Ukraine,” Obama said.
The Obama administration has cautioned Russia not to cross a “line” in Ukraine, but declined to speculate how the U.S. would respond if Russia ignores the warning.
“I’m not going to speculate about what happens if this happens,” Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters Friday. “We’ve made clear that the United States supports the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the sovereignty of Ukraine. And we have made clear to Russia that we believe it would be a grave mistake to intervene in any way.”
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