Putin’s threat to West: Stay out
Biden urges Russia to wind down Ukraine tensions
RUSSIA yesterday issued a fearsome warning to the West to stay away from Crimea ‘for its own good’ as it continued its dramatic push of military forces around the region.
The chilling threat came as President Vladimir Putin and US coun counterpart Joe Biden shared an emergency telephone call in a bid to prevent war.
President Biden called on Russia to ‘ de- escalate tensions’ and reaffirmed America’s unwavering commitment to Ukraine and its territorial integrity, the White House said.
A spokesman added: ‘ The President voiced our concerns over the sudden Russian military build- up in occupied Crimea and on Ukraine’s borders.’
Nato joined those putting pressure on Moscow, ordering it to stop its provocative build-up of troops immediately and offering international backing to Ukraine.
In response, Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov described America as an ‘adversary’ and warned it to avoid the Black Sea coast.
Two US warships, believed to include the USS Donald Cook, are due to arrive in the region this week.
Russia has amassed 80,000 soldiers around eastern Ukraine in the biggest movement of troops since its 2014 invasion of Crimea, triggering fears of another major advance into neighbouring territory.
Its threatening rhetoric follows increasing concerns among security experts that Moscow will launch offensive military operations and that its accumulation of troops and equipment amounts to more than just ‘sabre-rattling’.
Mr Ryabkov said: ‘ The United States is our adversary and does everything it can to undermine Russia’s position on the world stage. We warn the US that it would be better for them to stay far away from Crimea and our coast. It will be for their own good.’
The head of Nato, Jens Stoltenberg, said yesterday: ‘These [military] movements are unjustified, unexplained and deeply concerning... and over the last days several Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in eastern Ukraine.’
Ukraine – which applied to join Nato in 2008 but is yet to gain membership – is pressing Western powers for ‘practical’ support. Speaking alongside Mr Stoltenberg yesterday, Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said: ‘Russia will not be able to catch anyone by surprise any more. Ukraine and our friends remain vigilant.
‘By gathering today we try to avoid the mistake that was made in 2014 when Russia was ready to act swiftly and pursue its military goals.’
Mr Kuleba later held talks in Brussels with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The Kremlin has said it is not planning to go to war but that it ‘will not remain indifferent’ as it looks to protect Russian speakers in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russian TV channels warned viewers to prepare for conflict.