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On the Brink: Ukraine Tells Russia that Invasion Means War

03 Mar 2014
Katrina Senchuk

The crisis in Ukraine has escalated dramatically over the weekend, with Crimea having been successfully invaded by 6,000 airborne and ground troops in what could be the start of a wider invasion.

Washington threatens to contain Russia economically after President Vladimir Putin declared he had the right to invade his neighbour in Moscow’s biggest confrontation with the West since the Cold War.

In response, Ukraine has ‘mobilized for war’, calling up all military reservists.

Interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk warned the country is “on the brink of disaster.”

How events play out in the next few days could help shape the geopolitical map for years to come. Follow the latest developments on the Guardian’s live-feed here.

Russian Troops encircle Crimea’s Capital while Interfax reports that Russian military servicemen have taken weapons from a radar base and naval training facility in Ukraine’s Crimea region675,000 Ukrainians pour into Russia as ‘humanitarian crisis’ looms.

Reporting from Crimean military base, Shaun Walker writes: “If Saturday was the day when Vladimir Putin won official backing from his parliament to introduce troops to Ukraine, Sunday was when Russia mobilised its military to attempt to win the new Crimean war without firing a single bullet.”

There have been calls in Kiev to regain nuclear status in six months.

Meanwhile the Australian government has summoned the Russian ambassador. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has made a statement that the secretary of DFAT, Peter Varghese, will meet with Ambassador Vladimir Morozov on Monday.

 

Katrina Senchuk is an intern at the Australian Institute of International Affairs National Office and post-graduate student at the Australian National University. She can be reached at intern3@internationalaffairs.org.au