Obama: Putin is fooling nobody
BARACK Obama issued a stark message to President Putin yesterday, warning that Russia’s attempts to legitimise military intervention in Crimea are fooling nobody.
The US President all-but accused Putin of violating international law, while US secretary of state John Kerry reiterated the threat of economic sanctions against the country if Putin does not withdraw his troops.
Russia and America are locked in an increasingly fraught war of words over Ukraine, which remains in a state of political and financial instability. Both nations have offered financial help, including $1bn from US coffers.
Putin denied that troops surrounding military bases in Crimea are Russian and sought to explain his involvement in Ukraine as a reaction to an undemocratic takeover bid. “This was an unconstitutional coup and the armed seizure of power,” he said of the removal of President Yanukovich. He added that intervention in Crimea was “a humanitarian mission” and portrayed the United Nations and NATO as the sources of conflict in Ukraine.
Putin eased fears of an imminent military strike, saying force would be used as a last resort, adding: “It will be legitimate, fully corresponding to the norms of international law.” The speech came as Russia test-fired an inter-continental ballistic missile.
Despite US scepticism Putin’s comments lifted markets, recovering some of the losses made on Monday. The S&P closed at a record high of 1,873.91 last night while the FTSE closed up at 1.7 per cent higher than the previous day.