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UN Security Council Emergency Meeting
Quote:
Simferopol, Ukraine (CNN) -- Russia's Parliament signed off Saturday on President Vladimir Putin's request to send military forces into Ukraine, raising the stakes in a quickly escalating game of brinksmanship between the two countries.
Putin cited the "extraordinary situation in Ukraine" in his request, adding that the lives of Russian citizens and military personnel based in southern Crimea had been threatened.
The move prompted world diplomats to call for a de-escalation of tensions that have put the two countries on a possible path to war and roiled relations between Russia and the United States.
Ukraine acting President Oleksandr Turchynov took to the airwaves late Saturday to warn any Russian military intervention would lead to war, even as acting Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said that he had been told by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev that no decision had been made on whether Moscow would dispatch forces.
Yatsenyuk said his country was ready to mobilize its forces to protect strategic locations, including nuclear power plants.
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Quote:
The crisis raised alarm bells with the worlds diplomats, and an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council was underway Saturday afternoon.
The United States and other nations have called on Russia to pull back from the Crimea or face consequences.
In comments Friday from the White House, U.S. President Barack Obama that any violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity would be "deeply destabilizing," and warned "the United States will stand with the international community in affirming that there will be costs for any military intervention in Ukraine."
His message was heard in Moscow, where the head of Russia's upper house of Parliament said Saturday that she planned to ask Putin to recall Russia's ambassador to the United States. Valentina Matvienko, chairwoman of the Federation Council, cited "the recent statements by the U.S. President threatening Russia."
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DEVELOPING STORY
SOURCE / READ MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/01/world/...html?hpt=hp_t1
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