Wonder at what point Russian military asks why they've been sent into Ukraine to fight non-existent enemy, given evidence of their own eyes
— Tony Halpin (@tonyhalpin) March 2, 2014
Kerry, appearing on the CBS network's program "Face the Nation,' raised the possibility of boycotting the June meeting of the Group of Eight leading industrialized countries in Sochi, Russia.
He's also discussed visa bans, asset freezes, and trade and investment penalties.
He said he had spoken with foreign ministers for G-8 and other nations on Saturday, and says everyone is prepared 'to go to the hilt" to isolate Russia.
Four naval ships - one after the other - have come into the harbour at Sevastopol in the last hour. pic.twitter.com/4EmOCn6Nmc
— Christian Fraser (@ForeignCorresp) March 2, 2014
#Ukrainian army base under #Russian siege. Rus radicals:'Get out here!' #Perekopne #Perevalnoye #RussiaInvadesUkraine pic.twitter.com/MntBjolnmR
— Ukrainian Updates (@Ukroblogger) March 2, 2014
My friend in #Moscow saw a lone Orthodox priest protesting #Ukraine intervention. Moments later, the police took him. pic.twitter.com/7SEe10zukg
— Michael Cecire (@mhikaric) March 2, 2014
●Widening application of the 2012 Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act against an array of Kremlin officials, including Putin;
●Terminating all negotiations with Russia on a possible trade agreement or promoting business;
●Calling an emergency NATO meeting to reassure NATO allies that border Ukraine and initiate mobilization of forces to be ready for any developments (Article 4 of the NATO Treaty, invoked by Latvia and Lithuania, calls for consultations about security concerns);
●Sending U.S. military ships to the Black Sea for any contingencies;
●Pushing for a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning Russia’s aggression against its neighbor, even though Russia will obviously veto it; and
●Joining other Group of Eight members in expelling Russia and announcing the cancellation of Obama’s plans to visit Sochi, where Putin was to host this year’s G-8 meeting in June."
Russia's most-watched news channel cancelling live Oscars in early hours tomorrow to concentrate on Ukraine -- interesting
— Anna Malpas (@malpasanna) March 2, 2014
He said that his officers were "hostages of the situation" and that he was worried about his men.
Watch the interview here.
"Russia is inviting probrium on the international stage. There could even be -- ultimately -- asset freezes, visa bans, there could be certainly disruption of any of the normal trade routine, there could be business draw-back on investment in the country. The ruble is already going down in feeling the impact of this."
"[Vladimir Putin] is not going to gain by this. You know, he may be able to have his troops for some period of time in the Crimea unless he resolves this, but the fact is, he is going to lose on the international stage; Russia is going to lose, Russian people are going to lose; he is going to lose all of the glow that came out of the Olympics -- his $60 billion extravaganza -- he is not going to have a Sochi G8. He may not even remain in the G8 if this continues."