US, Russia In Verbal War Over Ukraine; Neighbors Concerned

(Vatican Radio) Washington and Moscow remain in a war of words over Russia's intentions towards Ukraine, following Friday's phone call between American President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.


Their talks came while Putin acknowledged for the first time that Russian troops played a role in the recent takeover of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, from where thousands of ethnic Tatars are fleeing to the mainland.


In a one-hour phone call, Obama urged Putin to withdraw tens of thousands of troops on Ukraine's borders, the White House said in a statement.


He said Russia should not take any further steps to invade Ukraine after its recent takeover of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula.

Instead, Obama suggested, international monitors could ensure the safety of ethnic Russians in Crimea.


RUSSIA CALLING

Friday's phone call was initiated by Putin and occurred while Obama was traveling in Saudi Arabia, officials said.

The U.S. also warned it would impose tougher sanctions on Russia if it continues controversial military actions, explained State Department Deputy Spokeswoman Marie Harf.


"We’ve already hurt his [Putin’s] economy, greatly by the action he’s already taken," she told reporters.

"There will be further consequences that will hurt Russia even more, and further isolate them, whether it’s diplomatically, economically, or militarily from the rest of the world if they do. A number of steps are on the table right now.”

Not everyone is pleased with tougher sanctions, including neighboring countries such as Hungary.


OPPOSING SANCTIONS

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in published remarks Friday that he is against the European Union imposing a new round of economic sanctions on Russia over its intervention in Ukraine.


His former Communist country receives roughly 80 percent of its natural gas needs from Russia and fears Moscow may retaliate by cutting off supplies.


Additionally Hungary also signed a 10 billion euro ($13.8 billion) deal with Moscow for Rosatom to expand Hungary’s Paks nuclear plant, a major power generator.

Russia is also Hungary’s largest trading partner outside the European Union, with exports worth 2.55 billion euros ($3.5 billion) in 2013, according to official estimates.

Talks between the American and Russian leaders came on the day that Putin acknowledged for the first time that Russian troops were directly involved in the takeover of Crimea.


PUTIN PLEASED

"The recent events in Crimea were a serious examination and they demonstrated the quality of the new abilities of our military personnel, as well as the high moral spirit of the staff,” Putin said at a televised ceremony in the Kremlin with newly appointed high-ranking military officers.


Yet the Russian leader, who initiated Friday's phone call with Obama, reportedly defended his actions in Crimea.


The Kremlin said Putin had told Obama that Ukraine's government is allowing extremists to intimidate civilians, including ethnic Russians, and that the international community must help stabilize the situation.


Putin also complained of an "effective blockade" by Ukrainian border authorities of nearby Moldova's separatist region of Trans-Dniester, where Russia has troops.


His remarks did little to calm down anxious minority Tatars in Crimea. Ukrainian authorities say at least 3,500 Crimean Tatars have fled following the Russian takeover of the peninsula, and that the country is prepared for an influx of some 20,000 more refugees.


REMEMBERING STALIN

They are anxious as hundreds of thousands of Tatars were deported from Crimea by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.


Solving these issues will be an uphill battle for Ukraine's next president.


On Saturday, former boxing champion turned politician Vitali Klitschko even withdrew his candidacy from the May 25 presidential race in Ukraine to endorse fellow millionaire member of parliament Petro Poroshenko.


Among other candidates in the race is former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, a controversial figure, who has pledged to implement "true reforms."

The 53-year-old politician was recently released after spending three years in jail on what her supporters have called trumped-up charges of abuse of power.


Listen to Stefan Bos’ report: