RUSSIAN TROOPS AND military planes have been flowing into Crimea in violation of accords between the two countries, according to Ukrainian border guards.
Over the last 24 hours, 10 Russian combat helicopters and eight military cargo planes have landed on the flashpoint Black Sea peninsula, the guards said in a statement, while four Russian warships have been in the port of Sevastopol since Saturday.
Kiev received no warning regarding the troop movements, even though that is required by the international laws regarding the stationing of Russia’s Black Sea navy in Crimea.
Under these agreements, Ukraine should receive notice of any troop movements 72 hours in advance.
EU ministers are holding a extraordinary meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels today to discuss the recent developments in Ukraine.
Entering the meeting, Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore says that the sacntions against Russia is one option that will be discussed at toda’s meeting.
We need to discuss what steps we can take if Russia does not comply with international law. The action that it took over the weekend, in effect invading Ukraine, is in breach of the charter of the United nations, its in breach of Helsinki Final act and is in breach of international law.
“We need to see those forces withdrawn to their regular barracks, that certainly will be an approach taken by the foreign affairs council,” he added.
Gilmore said that the EU will not tak ean approach where it simply does nothing and allows Russia to effectively annex Crimea.
The Black Sea autonomous region, which has housed Russian navies since the 18th century, has come under control of Russian forces and local pro-Kremlin militia, who have surrounded several Ukrainian military bases.
On Saturday, Russia’s parliament gave President Vladimir Putin the green light to send troops to Ukraine, in a crisis that threatens to escalate into the worst since the Cold War.
© – AFP 2014 with additional reporting from Rónán Duffy
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