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Masked pro-Russia protesters stand guard
at a
barricadeoutside a regional government building
in Donetsk, in eastern
Ukraine April 21, 2014.
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Ukrainian forces carried out an
operation to drive pro-Russian separatists out of occupying government
buildings in Slavyansk, killing as many as 5 people in the process. Putin
reacted to this by releasing this statement; “If the Kyiv government is using
the army against its own people this is clearly a grave crime". Since
then, the Russian defence minister announced that Russia will be beginning new
military exercises near its shared border with Ukraine.
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This announcement included
mobilizing ground and air forces, further heightening the tensions in eastern
Ukraine, and raising more questions about the likelihood of Russian military incursion
into Ukraine. Russia’s foreign minister
warned the previous day that any attacks on Russian interests by Ukraine would
bring a “strong response”.
Ukraine isn’t taking this
situation lying down, as Ukraine’s foreign minister Andriy Deshchytisa
announced that it is prepared to fight Russian troops if invaded. Deshchytisa
also called upon the EU to impose further sanctions on Russia.
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Ukrainian Defense Minister Pavlo Lebedev
and NATO
Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen
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Since the crisis has continued to
escalate, the Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon expressed his
concern that the situation could quickly spin out of control. The situation has
also reached the attention of many other important political figures, including
the NATO Secretary-General, President Obama, along with many others.
The crisis is continuing to
destroy Russia’s economy, as well as its already poor international reputation.
Despite the inevitable risks of further action crippling Russia further, Putin
is not backing down. With both Ukrainian Prime Minister Kyiv and President
Putin standing firm, pressures will only continue to rise.
http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/ukraine-launches-operation-against-insurgents-in-the-east-1.1790031
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