Crisis in Ukraine - March 12, 2014
News | March 12, 2014
EWI offers a daily situation report on Ukraine's unfolding crisis, featuring key developments and links to number of analytical pieces from foregin policy experts around the world.
Key Developments
- World leaders have issued statements condemning the upcoming Crimean referendum.
- In a joint statement, the leaders of the G-7, the President of the Council of Europe and the President of the European Commission have condemned Russia’s actions in Crimea as a violation of the Ukrainian Constitution and international law, including the UN Charter. In the statement, the leaders also called on Russia to stop the Crimean referendum and declared that they would not recognize the results due to the “lack of adequate preparations and the intimidating presence of Russian troops.” The statement went on to call on Russia to utilize diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict under the auspices of the UN or the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE).
- The OSCE Chair has declared the Crimean referendum illegitimate as it is not in keeping with the Ukrainian Constitution and international law.
- The leader of Crimean Tatars, Refat Chubarov, believes that Russia will rig the referendum and has called for a boycott.
- Ukrainian leaders have appealed for financial assistance, revealing that the Ukrainian treasury has less than $500,000 and needs $4 billion to prevent a default on its debts. An IMF team is currently in Kiev assessing and finalizing Ukraine’s financial needs.
- In a joint statement, the leaders of the G-7, the President of the Council of Europe and the President of the European Commission have condemned Russia’s actions in Crimea as a violation of the Ukrainian Constitution and international law, including the UN Charter. In the statement, the leaders also called on Russia to stop the Crimean referendum and declared that they would not recognize the results due to the “lack of adequate preparations and the intimidating presence of Russian troops.” The statement went on to call on Russia to utilize diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict under the auspices of the UN or the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE).
- The EU has finalized a seven-page document setting sanctions against Russia, including travel bans and asset freezes. The measures, targeted at individuals who have undermined and threatened Ukrainian sovereignty, are being coordinated with the U.S., Canada, Switzerland, Turkey and Japan. In their meeting next Monday, EU foreign ministers are expected to approve the measures.
- Acting on a request from Ukraine, the OSCE has called on its member states to provide unarmed observers to deploy to eastern and southern Ukraine. So far, twenty-five states have responded positively to the request. An earlier OSCE observer mission to the Crimea was halted by checkpoints setup along Crimea’s border.
- Mustafa Jemilev, a representative of Crimean Tatars, is in Moscow this week on the invitation of Russian leaders. This invitation is seen as a part of a charm offensive by Russia to win the support of Tatars for the Crimean referendum.
- Interim Ukrainian Prime Minister Yatsenyuk is to meet with Obama today at the White House.
- Ukraine’s media regulator has ordered the country’s cable providers to stop transmitting Russian language television.
Government Statements
Statement of G-7 Leaders on Ukraine – March 12, 2014:
OSCE Chair says Crimean referendum is illegal in current form – March 11, 2014
OSCE – Ukraine requests continuation of visit by unarmed personnel – March 11, 2014
Analytical Pieces
Dimitri K. Simes and Paul J. Saunders, “And the Winner in Ukraine Is … China,” The National Interest, March 12, 2014
Rajan Menon, “A Ten-Point Plan for Ukraine,” The National Interest, March 12, 2014
Nikolas K. Gvosdev, “How Putin Can Use Crimea,” The National Interest, March 12, 2014
Ted Galen Carpenter, “Ukraine Should Have Kept Its Nukes,” The National Interest, March 12, 2014
Harry Kazianis, “5 Ways Russia’s Ukraine ‘Boomerang’ Could Strike Asia,” The Diplomat, March 12, 2014
Brenda Shaffer, “Pipeline Problems: Ukraine Isn’t Europe’s Biggest Energy Risk,” Foreign Affairs, March 11, 2014
Jeffrey Tayler, “Sorry, Putin Isn’t Crazy,” Foreign Policy, March 11, 2014