Putin defies West with Crimea visit / EU foreign ministers to raise pressure on Russia over Ukraine

Series Title
Series Details 12.05.14
Publication Date 12/05/2014
Content Type

Russian President Vladimir Putin was received as a hero in Crimea on the 9 May 2014. He visited the peninsula for the first time since Russia annexed it from Ukraine in March 2014, in a gesture of defiance that has angered the Ukrainian leadership and was branded as 'inappropriate' by NATO and Western leaders.

The European Union was scheduled to step up pressure on Russia on the 12 May 2014 by taking a first cautious step towards extending sanctions to companies, as well as people, linked to Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region [check related link for the conclusions of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting].

Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany arrived in Kiev on the 12 May 2014 on Berlin’s latest diplomatic effort to defuse the crisis that has seized the eastern region of Ukraine after Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

President of the Council of the European Union, Herman Van Rompuy, met with Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk on 12 May 2014. On the occasion of the visit of Mr. Yatsenyuk to Brussels, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso warned Moscow it was against Russia’s interest to confront with the West and that it was not too late “to engage positively”. The EU provided Ukraine with its first financial aid package, funds for Kyiv's energy bills and political reforms [check related links for more information on the energy crisis and EU/IMF financial help to Ukraine].

In the meantime, the United States criticised France for planning to deliver two warships to Russia despite its actions in Ukraine. State department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told press in Washington on 12 May 2014 that "we have expressed our concerns to the French government over the sale. We'll continue to do so".

The United Nations warned of an "alarming deterioration" in human rights in eastern Ukraine, where separatists are fighting security forces.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/eu-foreign-ministers-raise-pressure-russia-over-ukraine-302055
Related Links
EurActiv, 09.05.14: Putin defies West with Crimea visit http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/putin-defies-west-crimea-visit-302044
ESO: Background information: NATO: Russia can achieve its goals in Ukraine without invading / Putin Calls on Ukrainian Federalists to Put Off May 11 Vote http://www.europeansources.info/record/nato-russia-can-achieve-its-goals-in-ukraine-without-invading-putin-calls-on-ukrainian-federalists-to-put-off-may-11-vote/
ESO: Background information: Donetsk status referendum, 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/donetsk-status-referendum-2014/
ESO: Key Source: Euromaidan - Protests in Ukraine 2013 - 2015 - Key source http://www.europeansources.info/record/euromaidan-protests-in-ukraine-2013-2015/
Euronews, 12.05.14: EU to step up Russia sanctions http://www.euronews.com/2014/05/12/eu-to-step-up-russia-sanctions/
The Guardian, 12.05.14: Russia calls for Ukraine dialogue between Kiev and regions http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/12/russia-ukraine-dialogue-kiev-donetsk-luhansk
Deutsche Welle, 12.05.14: EU mulls tougher sanctions on Russia http://dw.de/p/1By1e
ESO: Background information: Council conclusions on Ukraine. Foreign Affairs Council meeting, Brussels, 12 May 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-conclusions-on-ukraine-foreign-affairs-council-meeting-brussels-12-may-2014/
The New York Times, 13.05.14: Germany Renews Diplomatic Effort to Ease Ukraine Crisis http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/14/world/europe/ukraine.html
BBC News, 13.05.14: Ukraine crisis: May election 'will play crucial role' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27386838
Deutsche Welle, 11.05.14: Europe's minorities troubled by Crimean crisis http://dw.de/p/1BxrO
Deutsche Welle, 12.05.14: Donetsk separatists ask to join Russia http://dw.de/p/1ByZb
Council of the European Union: Press Release, PRES/14/285: Statement by President Herman Van Rompuy following his meeting with Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/142565.pdf
European Commission: RAPID: MEMO/14/346: Joint statement after the meeting between the European Commission and the Ukrainian Government http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-14-346_en.pdf
European Commission: RAPID: SPEECH/14/372: Remarks by President Barroso following the meeting between the European Commission and the Ukrainian Government http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-14-372_en.pdf
EUObserver, 13.05.14: US says French warships to Russia 'unhelpful' http://euobserver.com/foreign/124109
EurActiv, 14.05.14: Barroso tells Putin to abandon ‘Brezhnev doctrine' of limited sovereignty http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/barroso-tells-putin-abandon-brezhnev-doctrine-limited-sovereignty-302111
BBC News, 14.05.14: Ukraine crisis sends a chill into orbit http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-27408819
The Guardian, 14.05.14: Ukraine agrees to talks on Moscow-backed plan for eastern regions http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/14/ukraine-talks-moscow-plan-regions-osce
Deutsche Welle, 14.05.14: Merkel: Violence has no place at round-table talks http://dw.de/p/1BzJU
ESO: Background information: EU / IMF financial support to Ukraine http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-approves-financial-support-and-trade-measures-for-ukraine-imf-approves-17bn-ukraine-bailout-package/
ESO: Background information: Russia says it will halt gas deliveries if Ukraine doesn’t pay http://www.europeansources.info/record/energy-and-the-ukrainian-crisis-russia-says-it-will-halt-gas-deliveries-if-ukraine-doesnt-pay/
France 24, 13.05.14: France’s unpalatable warship deal with Russia http://www.france24.com/en/20140513-france-warships-russia-mistral-criticism-usa-nato-ukraine/
Deutsche Welle, 14.05.14: Russia sees Ukraine on the 'brink of civil war' http://dw.de/p/1BzdV
EurActiv, 15.05.14: Kyiv reaches out to regions, but not to separatists http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/kyiv-reaches-out-regions-not-separatists-302148
BBC News, 16.05.14: Ukraine crisis: UN sounds alarm on human rights in east http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27438422
Deutsche Welle, 16.05.14: UN warns of alarming deterioration in human rights in east Ukraine http://dw.de/p/1C1Ar
Spiegel Online International, 13.08.14: Russia's Soul: What Crimea Says about Putin's Future http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/a-visit-to-crimea-in-search-of-the-beginnings-of-a-putin-legacy-a-985536.html

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